


© 0/7 ^ 


COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




















THE RESCUE 


CADDO: 


... OR, — 

Cupid in the Gas Belt. 


A. Storv| jronp 


ea 



CX. 

V\ 

CH AS. J. WAYNE, ^ 



|filn$iralctu 


RICHMOND, IND. : 

Published by James Charles. 
1889. 




Entered according to Act of Congress, 
in the year 1889, by 

James Charles, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, 
at Washington. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 



Index, or Table of Contents, 


Pa ge 355- 


TO MY DEVOTED WIFE 


WHO HAS DOUBLED MY JOYS, DIVIDED MY SORROWS, 
AND MADE MY HOME CHEERFUL AND HAPPY, 
AND WHOSE PURE, SWEET LIFE HAS BEEN A CONSTANT 
INSPIRATION AND BENEDICTION TO ME, 

THIS BOOK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED, 

BY 


THE AUTHOR. 


PREFATORY. 


The author having been thrown for many years 
amongst all classes of people in our Western States and 
Territories, where some of the drollest, as well as some 
of the saddest life scenes are often witnessed ; and more 
recently, with that conglomerate mass of humanity 
found in the newly discovered gas and oil fields of Ohio 
and Indiana; he has, per force of habit, jotted down 
many interesting incidents from real life , as seen by him 
from both mirthful and grave stand-points, and has 
embodied some of them in this story. He has tried to 
give these pen-pictures as nearly in the language of the 
characters presented, as will be admissible in a book 
that seeks a place in our purest homes ; but for obvious 
reasons, he has substituted other names than those by 
which the persons and places described are known. 

Should the language seem rough or uncouth in some 
of its pages, or should the story smack of romance, the 
only apology must be: it could not otherwise have 
been true to life. 

“ What is love, that all the world 
Talk so much about it? 

What is love, that neither you 
Nor I can do without it?” 


Caddo. 


CHAPTER I. 

THE RESCUE. 

“ How’er it be, it seems to me, 

’Tis only noble to be good ; 

Kind hearts are more than coronets, 

And simple worth than Norman blood.” 

REAT Caesar! Bill, look at them ’ere dogs a 
vJT fightin’. They’re a rollin’ an’ tumblin’ right 
toward Doc. Blackfoot’s hoss, an’ Nora has jist got 
into the buggy. There’ll be a runaway as sure as 
shootin’. Yes, here they come, lickety-cut, an’ Nora 
will be thrown out an’ killed, sure.” 

The horse came dashing down Main street on a 
furious run, and the terrified girl pulling only on one 
rein, screaming “Whoa, whoa! help! stop him!” while 
the men on the street ran out of the way of the fright- 
ened beast, each, though, yelling, “Head him off, stop 
him, whoa,” etc., when Mr. Slathers, a tall, broad- 
shouldered man, who had first called attention to the 
dog fight and frightened horse, sprang to the rescue 
and caught the rein next to him as they passed, but 
pulling it with such force that it snapped like a thread 
in his powerful hand, and the speed of the frightened 
animal was rather increased than checked by the effort. 

George Hartley, a lad of seventeen, was coming 
up the sidewalk, a square below, and had seen the 
2 


10 


CADDO; OR , 


horse start, and knowing that Nora’s life was in danger, 
determined to stop the furious beast at the risk of his 
own life ; so, springing with the agility of a cat to the 
horse’s head as he came dashing down the street, caught 
with both hands to the bridle, near the bit, and was 
dragged along for half a square, sometimes apparently 
under the horse’s feet, and then again swinging around 
by his side, but finally bringing the frantic steed to 
a full stop by turning it up to a rack at the sidewalk 
in front of Mr. Johnson’s store. 

A dozen lazy loafers now stepped forward to help the 
frightened girl out of the buggy, after they saw that 
young Hartley had brought the horse to a safe halt, and 
had him under complete control. 

But Mr. Slathers, the man who had first caught the 
rein, had followed on with all possible speed and was 
by the side of the buggy as soon as the horse was 
stopped, almost walking over them, as he said, “ Clair 
outen here, you lazy, sneakin’ cowards,” and reaching 
up towards the frightened child, she instinctively sprang 
into his strong arms and was tenderly lifted to the side- 
walk. 

“You cussed cowardly whelps,” said he, “to run an’ 
squall like a passel uv skeered chickens with a hawk ar- 
ter ’em, ’stid uv tryin’ to do somethin’ sensible to stop 
the hoss, an’ now when you see there ain’t no danger, 
to come shinin’ around here bigger ’n boots. Clair 
outen here, I tell you,” and the loafers dropped back, 
much as a lot of curs would have done from a furious 
Newfoundland dog. 

“ Here, George, you saved the girl, so you jist take 
her home, an’ I’ll take keer uv the hoss, for the lines is 
all broke up, an’ she’s too skeered to ride anyhow. But 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


11 


say, George, you’re hurt, ain’t ye? Whar’s all that 
blood a cornin’ from?” 

All eyes were now turned toward the brave boy. 

A sharp point on the horse’s shoe had cut quite a gash 
just below his knee, which was bleeding rapidly, and 
he was also spitting blood quite copiously. 

“ Oh, George ! you are badly hurt. What shall we 
do?” cried Nora, who was the first one to his side. 

“Oh! this amounts to nothing. I shall soon be all 
right,” said he, but with these words he fell fainting to 
the sidewalk, for the knee of the horse had struck him on 
the side and chest, bruising him deeply, which caused 
bleeding from his lungs. 

“ Here, Bill Arnett, you run quick for Doc. Black- 
foot,” said the man who had lifted the frightened girl to 
the sidewalk; and stooping down, he lifted the wounded 
boy tenderly as any other man in the crowd could have 
done for a little child, and carrying him into the store, 
laid him on a lounge in the office. 

The man addressed ran with all haste to Dr. Black- 
foot’s office, and on entering said, “Doctor, Henry 
Hartley’s boy is killed down at Johnson’s store, and 
they want you down there quick.” 

“Well, if he is killed I can do him no good,” said 
the Doctor, “lam neither a resurrectionist nor an un- 
dertaker.” 

“Well, Josh Slathers said for me to tell you to come 
quick.” 

“ Did no one else send for me ?” 

“ No, sir, not as I heard.” 

By this time Nora came running in, trembling and 
almost breathless: “ Pa, they want you quick at John- 
son’s store. George Hartley is there and badly hurt.” 


12 


CADDO; OR, 


“Well, Arnett, this puts another face on the matter, 
and you may tell them Til be there in a few minutes.” 
So saying he took his pill bags and a few surgical instru- 
ments, and hastened to the side of the wounded boy. 
His sensible daughter had not taken time to tell of the 
runaway or even how the boy was hurt, as she feared 
that every moment lost might prove fatal to the one who 
had risked his life to save hers. 

George and Nora had been classmates in school ever 
since Dr. Blackfoot located in Caddo, and their dispo- 
sitions being quite congenial, a warm friendship had 
sprung up between them. But on the contrary, a feel- 
ing of hatred on the part of the Doctor and his wife, had 
for some time existed toward Henry Hartley and his 
family, in part because he was a farmer and heavily 
in debt, but chiefly because the Hartley family were 
Methodists and also strong temperance people. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


13 


CHAPTER II. 

A HEARTLESS DOCTOR. 

C ONSCIOUSNESS had been restored, and the flow 
of blood mainly stopped before the Doctor arrived, 
through the good sense of the man who had carried 
George into Mr. Johnson’s private office. A half a 
dozen of the excited loafers came crowding into the lit- 
tle room where Mr. Johnson and one of his clerks led 
the way to the lounge on which the wounded boy was 
laid. 

They all had suggestions to make as to what should 
be done, but no one of them seemed willing to do any- 
thing but get in the way of those who really had the 
case in charge. 

“ Why don’t you put water in his face?” said Sam 
Hooker. 

“Better turn him over and pound him on the back,” 
said Abe Green. 

“ Somebody go and hurry the doctor up; he’Jl never 
get here,” said Joe Gassett. 

“Better — hie — bleed him — hie — if the doctor don’t 
— hie — get here pretty — hie — soon,” said old Jerry Wil- 
son, who was too drunk to stand steady, so leaned awk- 
wardly against the door facing. 

“I’ll bet the Doctor ’ll give him a puke when he 
comes,” again yelled Abe Green, “for that’s what he 
give Mrs. Murphy t’other day for the cramps, an’ you 
bet it fetched her quicker’n lightnin’.” 


14 


CADDO; OR , 


“ Clair outen here, every dratted one of ye ,” said Mr. 
Slathers, who just then returned from the back yard 
where he had been for a pail of water. “Mr. Johnson 
an’ I’ll take care of him ’till the Doctor comes. You’re 
jist a breathin’ up all the air that he’s a gaspin’ for. 
Clair out, I tell ye.” 

The curious loafers knew better than to wait for a 
second warning from Josh Slathers, as he was familiarly 
called by everybody in Caddo, so filed out, muttering 
their curses against “the green Yankee that didn’t know 
enough to nuss a sick cat.” 

The Doctor arrived a few minutes later, and his ex- 
amination proved that one rib was broken and two 
others fractured, while the cut below the knee was only 
an ugly flesh wound. 

He could not tell, however, how seriously he had 
been bruised internally; and as he had not yet learned 
how or why the boy w T as hurt, he showed more indiffer- 
ence in the case than the attendants thought he should. 
So when he told George that he had better try to get 
home as soon as he felt like walking, Mr. Slathers in- 
dignantly protested against his trying to walk home. 
The look of intense pain on George’s face touched the 
great, kind heart of Joshua Slathers, and turning to the 
doctor, he said: 

“ Now, look here, Doc. Blackfoot, that ’ere boy 
ain’t fitten to try walkin’, an’ he shan’t walk a durned 
step either ; an’ you orto be ashamed to ax him to, af- 
ter savin’ your daughter’s life like he did. Why, ef it 
hadn’t been fer his ketchin’ your dratted runaway hoss, it 
would a been Nora instid o’ him a needin’ your atten- 
tion about now.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


15 


“ How is this, Mr. Johnson? I don’t understand it,” 
said the Doctor. 

“He can tell you more about it than I can, Doctor,” 
said Mr. Johnson, nodding his head toward Mr. Slath- 
ers, “I knew nothing about the accident until I saw 
the crowd gathered around the bleeding boy on the 
sidewalk.” 

“Well, Josh, tell us how it happened,” said the Doc- 
tor. 

“Well, in the fust place, Doc., them cussed dogs of 
Sam Hooker’s and Abe Green’s got to fightin’ on 
t’other side o’ the street from your house jist as Nora 
was a gittin’ into the buggy, an’ afore she could git 
a holt o’ both lines the durned dogs come a tumblin’ 
over one ’nother, right under the buggy, and the devil 
hisself couldn’t a hilt such a cussid runaway hoss as 
your’n then. I jumped into the street as he come along 
an’ ketched him by the line that Nora was pullin’ on, but 
Judas, Doc., it snapped like a rotten shoe string, an’ 
never checked him a bit more’n ef I’d sneezed at him. 
An’ every cussed rat on the street an’ sidewalk below 
hollered an’ run out of the way, all a helpin’ to skeer the 
hoss wuss’n ever, ’till that brave boy lay in’ thar jumped 
like a cat an’ caught him by the bridle, an’ stuck right 
to him like brick dust to a bar o’ soap ’till he stopped 
him right here in front o’ the store.” 

“Ah, yes, I understand now,” said the Doctor, “I 
noticed the horse and buggy were gone, but I thought 
the girls had driven around to the stable, as they fre- 
quently do. Well, George, you are a brave boy, and I 
certainly feel under obligations to you for your efforts. 

I will have my buggy sent around to take you home.” 

“ No you don’t, Doc., not by a darned sight,” said 


16 


CADDO; OR, 


Slathers, “he shan’t be all shuck up that way. Besides, 
that cussed hoss is so near skeered to death now that 
there mout be another runaway, an’ that’d finish George, 
the fix he’s in. Jest you take a holt o’ the foot o’ the 
lounge an’ I’ll take the head and the heft o’ the weight, 
an’ we’ll carry him home, for it ain’t more’n half a 
mile.” 

u I think this plan the better one,” said Mr. Johnson, 
“and I will have some of my men to assist you.” 

But as George’s father just then came in, he and Mr. 
Slathers carried the sufferer home on the lounge in as 
easy a manner as possible, but weeks passed before he 
was sufficiently recovered to be able to walk out. 

The Doctor called daily for more than a week, but 
could do but little for the relief of his patient; in fact, his 
sensible mother did about all that could be done for him. 
All of his classmates called frequently to see him, and 
their little tokens of kindness were very grateful to his 
heart, but none of them so much so as the beautiful 
bouquets which Nora always brought him. 

As before stated, Dr. Blackfoot was not friendly to- 
ward the family of Henry Hartley, and now that he saw 
that his patient was recovering and out of danger, he 
forbade his daughter’s further manifestation of her grati- 
tude to George for what he had risked and suffered to 
save her from danger. 

“I shall not permit you to pay any further attention 
to any of the Hartley family, Nora,” said the father, 
“ now that the boy is out of danger, even if his other 
classmates choose to do so. You must understand 
that they are poor, laboring people, and the whole fam- 
ily have to work hard on their farm and economize 
closely, and I have recently learned that their farm is 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


17 


heavily mortgaged, and they will probably lose that, in 
which case they will be little better than paupers. Be- 
sides, they are every one Methodists and fanatical on the 
temperance question, and I hope that no child of mine 
will disgrace us by recognizing these Hartleys as being 
on friendly terms with us. Do you understand what I 
mean, Nora?” 

“I think I do, papa; but surely you would not wish 
me to be less expressive of my appreciation of George’s 
kindness than any member of our class, since his suffer- 
ing was all caused by his efforts to save me from possi- 
bly a worse fate ?” 

“I mean just what I say, Nora, and I shall expect you 
to pay no further attention to George, or any other 
fanatical Hartley.” 

It was hard for Nora to keep back her tears, as she 
felt that her father was so unreasonable in his demands ; 
but this course had just the opposite effect with her from 
what her proud father intended, for her sympathies were 
now more than ever enlisted for her afflicted classmate. 
She had noticed that his clothes were of the cheaper 
grade, but they were always scrupulously neat and 
clean. She had heard the day before that the Hartley 
family were compelled to exercise the most rigid econ- 
omy in order to keep their home, and at the same time 
keep their children comfortably clothed and in school; 
and now that her father had confirmed the statement by 
speaking of their poverty, she determined to make one 
more effort in their behalf, so she said, “ Well, papa, 
as they are so poor I hope you will charge them nothing 
for what you have done in this case, as I should have 
been the one who required all the attention if it had not 
been for his bravery in stopping our horse.” 


18 


CADDO: OR , 


Dr. Blackfoot saw that his daughter’s sympathies 
were drawn out toward the sufferer, and knowing that 
it is “only a step from pity to love,” he determined if 
possible to build an insuperable barrier between his own 
family and every member of that of Henry Hartley. 
He hated the latter most intensely for fc his temperance 
principles; besides, wealth was the idol he worshiped; 
poverty the demon he detested. While he loved his 
daughter, yet he had inherited from his father a stern, 
inflexible will that would not allow him to yield a point 
on account of her wishes, so he replied : 

“You are too young, Nora, to understand much 
about business. I shall be very reasonable in my 
charges in this case, as I am with all very poor people. 
Besides, I fear you put too much stress on the mere act 
of his stopping the horse. Why, .it was no more than his 
duty, which any one should have done under the cir- 
cumstances, and I wish you to dismiss this subject from 
your mind now and give your whole attention to your 
studies.” 

Nora made no reply, but left the room with a heavy 
heart. 

“ How can papa be so selfish?” thought she, as she 
resumed her studies in the library. “If ever I am a 
woman and have any means at my disposal, I shall take 
pleasure in helping such noble poor people rather than 
in any way to oppress them.” 

But in order that the reader may have a better idea of 
Dr. Blackfoot’s character, a sketch of his early life must 
be given. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


19 


CHAPTER III. 

COLLEGE DAYS. 

T EN years ago, Caddo was a beautiful town of less 
than three thousand inhabitants, and situated in 
what is now known as the “Natural Gas Belt.” For 
years past her citizens had been noted for their interest 
in schools, churches, and especially in the temperance 
work, as they had not at that time tolerated a saloon in 
their town. 

A few years before the opening of our story, Dr. 
Blackfoot, of Albany, New York, located with his family 
in Caddo. The Doctor was a man of commanding ap- 
pearance, with dark brown eyes and full black beard 
slightly tinged with grey, for he was nearing the merid- 
ian of life. He could be very sociable and friendly at 
times, but as a rule was not so ; and the close observer 
could not fail to detect in him, on certain occasions, a 
restless, uneasy movement, that was suggestive of some 
apprehended danger. 

Mrs. Blackfoot was an unusually handsome woman of 
forty, and far more than the Doctor’s equal in social 
qualities, but scarcely equaling him in pride and avarice. 

Their son Archibald, who was nineteen at the time of 
their removal to Caddo, was rough and uncouth in his 
manners, besides being so disgustingly profane and 
overbearing that the boys called him “ Bull-dog Black- 
foot.” 

Their three daughters, Belle, Nora and Kate, were 
beautiful girls, though all of a different type. 


20 


CADDO; OR, 


Belle, the eldest, a girl of seventeen, was rather tall, 
with dark brown eyes and auburn hair. 

Nora, two years younger, was of medium height, and 
round, full form, with light blue eyes and flaxen hair, 
and while she was the most beautiful, she was also by 
far the most lovely in her character. 

Kate, a girl of ten years, was as nearly the picture of 
her father as a girl ever could be, with jet black hair, 
and dark, restless eyes, that told of a raging temper 
within, which at times was uncontrollable. 

But that the reader may more clearly understand the 
nature of one of our chief characters, we must go back 
to the boyhood days of Dr. Blackfoot. 

He was the only son of Mr. John Blackfoot, a weal- 
thy liquor dealer of Albany, New York. Mr. Blackfoot 
had given Richard, for this is the Doctor’s name, every 
educational advantage that money could bestow, but 
had neglected that heart training, without which, no 
life, even in the business world, is safe. His mother, 
though, was an earnest Christian, and often had she 
prayed with and for her son through his early boy- 
hood days, that God would make of him a pure, 
noble and true man. 

These lessons were not wholly unheeded by Richard, 
for until he left the parental roof to attend college, he 
seldom neglected his hours of devotion and secret pray- 
er. Indeed, for weeks after entering college, he daily 
thought of his promise to his devoted mother as she 
gave him her own beautiful pocket Bible with her part- 
ing kiss, and begged him to make this book his daily 
counselor and friend. 

‘‘You will be surrounded by temptations and dangers 
on every hand, Richard,” said she, “but so long as you 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


21 


rely, not on yourself, but God, for help, you will be safe. 
Read from this blessed book daily, my son, not for my 
sake only, nor because I have asked it, but for the sake 
of him who gave his life’s blood for you, and who has 
promised to be strength to you in every hour of tempta- 
tion and need. As to your personal or temporal wants 
we have always given you everything you need, and 
shall send you from time to time as much money as is 
required for any reasonable expenditures while you are 
in college ; but you must keep an accurate account of 
all you expend, and what it is for, as you will not then 
be so likely to use your money foolishly.” 

It is needless to say that Richard promised compli- 
ance with his mother’s wishes in all of these matters, 
for he dearly loved and honored her ; and there was no 
personal sacrifice he would not cheerfully make for her 
sake. 

But little did he know the weakness of his own char- 
acter. While kneeling at his mother’s side, shut out 
from the world and those who would ridicule his devo- 
tions, it was easy enough to attend to these duties. 
But as another student, George Grant, occupied the 
same room with himself, who, so far as he could dis- 
cover, had never received any religious training, he 
felt it would be impossible to read even his mother’s 
Bible, and kneel as had been his custom, at the evening 
altar, in his presence. Oh, how different might his 
whole life have been, had he sacredly kept the promises 
given with the parting kiss to his mother ; for his room- 
mate had made similar promises to his Christian parents 
on leaving his religious home, and with as little thought 
that he, too, would soon yield to the temptations to 
heedlessly neglect such sacred duties. 


22 


CADDO; OR, 


CHAPTER IV. 


BROKEN VOWS. 


“There is a time, we know not when, 

A point, we know not where, 

That marks the destiny of man 
To glory or despair. 

There is a line by us unseen, 

That crosses every path ; 

The hidden boundary between 
God’s patience and his wrath. 

“To pass that limit is to die, 

To die as if by stealth ; 

It may not quench the beaming eye, 

Or pale the glow of health. 

Oh, where is this mysterious bourne 
By which our path is crossed ; 

Beyond which, God himself hath sworn, 
That he who goes is lost.” 



OT until the day before Richard left college did he 


learn that his room-mate had been reared in a 


Christian home, and' was daily stifling his Christian 
mother’s prayers. Coming into his room hastily one 
day near the close of the college term, he found two let- 
ters lying on the table. One was from an old school- 
mate, Ned Saunders, who had gone a few months be- 
fore with his parents to the far west. 

In addition to his glowing description of the wild 
scenery around their new western home, the whole let- 
ter was full of sprightly humor, which caused him more 
than one hearty laugh, before he came to the postscript, 
which ran as follows : 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


23 


‘ ‘ Richard, don’t let the matrimonial bee get in your 
bonnet before you have seen the west. Also, kindly 
extend my invitation to your jolly room-mate to come 
with you and spend your vacation with us. By the way, 
you will please let him read this letter, if you do not 
object to his knowing how poor a correspondent you 
have.” 

“ By Jove !” exclaimed Richard, as he finished read- 
ing the letter, “Ned is a jolly good correspondent, and 
I must let George read this letter as soon as he comes 
in. But where is this other letter from ? The post-mark 
is so dim I can’t make it out, but the writing looks fa- 
miliar. Yes, it must be father’s. I wonder why he has 
written, as mother writes all the social letters, and I was 
looking for her letter to-day.” 

He opened the letter and in it found a hastily written 
note from his father, telling him to start immediately for 
home, stating that the enclosed letter from his mother 
would be sufficient explanation. 

With trembling hands he seized his mother’s letter, 
which, in his excitement, had fallen to the floor, with 
the empty envelope and the letter from Ned Saunders. 

The letter ran as follows : 

“Albany, N. Y., Dec. 20th, 18 — . 
“My Dear Son Richard. — 

“The time has now come for you to know that you may 
soon be motherless, and much as I dislike to throw a 
shadow over your pathway, yet I feel something impell- 
ing me 'to write to you as I never have before; for this 
may be the last letter your mother’s hand will ever pen 
to you. 

“ While you have known that my health has been fail- 
ing for some months past, yet you have not known the 


24 


CADDO; OR, 


cause. Dr. Anderson pronounced my malady an internal 
tumor several weeks ago, and yesterday, he, in consul- 
tation with Drs. Johnson and Cutter, decided that a 
critical surgical operation would be necessary in order 
to save my life. 

“As Dr. Cutter leaves for Chicago on the 24th, they 
have decided to perform the operation next Friday, and 
your father thinks we had better have you come home. 
As the time is so near at hand, and accidents or de- 
lays may occur to prevent your arrival in time for me 
to say all I wish before my strength fails me, I shall 
leave a few words on these pages for you to treasure 
when the hand that now writes, and these lips which 
have so often kissed you, shall lie cold in death. It is 
hard for me to leave you and father, but God knows 
what is best, and I have learned to trustingly say, “Thy 
will be done.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, Richard ! be ever true to your vows. Be true to 
the promises you made to your mother when you took 
her parting kiss, ever to make God’s Word your coun- 
selor and guide, and daily to bend your knees to Him in 
prayer. He only can help you in the dark hours of 
temptation, which will come to you, as come they must 
to all. But with every victory over temptation, even 
though it be that of denying your Savior before your room- 
mate, by neglecting your Bible and evening devotions 
in his presence; if you conquer this sin, you will become 
stronger in your Christian life, and doubtless too in his 
estimation and affections. For if George is the noble 
young man you say he is, your united prayers doubtless 
ascend daily as sweet incense to the Giver of all good. 
Oh, Richard, your Bible and your daily prayers will 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


25 


be the sheet anchors to your soul in all your coming life, 
if you do not forsake them.” 

Richard could read no more, for every word seemed 
to send a thrill of pain through his soul. He dropped 
the letter on the floor, and bowed his head in grief on 
the table before him. 

How bitterly he reproached himself for all his broken 
vows. 

“ O, mother!” he sobbed, “how can I ever look in 
your sweet face again and tell you what a coward I have 
been ? Well, this ends my college days, for I shall never 
leave my mother again. With her, I can be brave. 
Away from her, I am indeed a coward. I must see the 
college faculty immediately, and make my arrangements 
for taking the early morning train homeward. But here 
comes George, and I am in no mood for talking with 
him.” 

So hastily gathering up the letters and putting each, 
as he supposed, in its proper envelope, dropped them 
on the table. After gathering up a few articles that he 
feared might be forgotten, and putting them in his 
trunk, he walked back past the table as his room-mate 
entered, and putting, as he supposed, his mother’s let- 
ter in his pocket, he handed the other to George, say- 
ing, “I am requested to let you read this letter, and as 
I shall be out for a short time, you can look over it 
while I am gone.” 

George opened the letter and glancing over it said, 
“Why, this is a lady’s hand; whose can it be? Well, 
Dick said he was requested to give it to me to read, so 
here goes.” 

“ My Dear Son Richard.” “ Why this must be from 
his mother. I wonder why he never showed me any 

3 


26 


CADDO; OR , 


of her letters before ? Perhaps, though, for the same 
reason that I have concealed my mother’s from him. 
I’ll see.” 

George had scarcely read to the point at which Rich- 
ard dropped the letter, when the latter re-entered the 
room. 

“Oh, Richard!” said he, “what a fool and coward I 
have been. Here you have had the manhood to show 
me your mother’s letter, which has doubtless been in 
your heart to do all the time, and I, like the coward 
that I am, have never dared to show you any of my 
mother’s letters for fear you would learn that I, too, had 
made a similiar promise to my Christian mother before 
leaving home, that it appears you have made to yours. 
Oh, Richard ! how often after reading one of her lov- 
ing letters, have I wished that you would propose the 
course indicated in this excellent letter from your 
mother that you have so kindly let me read, and for 
which I sincerely thank you.” 

“I deserve no thanks from you, George, for I see I 
have made a mistake and given you my mother’s letter 
instead of Ned Saunders’. But since you have shown 
your approval of my mother’s sentiments, I now heart- 
ily wish I had let you read them all. I shall take the 
early morning train for home, but I shall never enter 
college again. I have no power to resist temptation 
when not under my mother’s influence, and I shall never 
leave her again.” 

“Oh, Richard, I hope your mother’s health may soon 
be fully restored, so that you can at least return early 
in the term ; for I shall now miss you more than ever, 
and we could help each other in the future to be true 
to our vows.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


27 


“You might help me, George, but I could never help 
any one. I believe the very devil has possession of me 
now; for I feel almost angry at the Almighty for permitting 
such terrible maladies to exist as that which afflicts my 
mother. Why do these horrible diseases exist? If God 
is a good and loving Father, why does he permit such 
things? I cannot understand it.” 

“Neither do I, Richard, but I cannot doubt God’s 
goodness and fatherly care over us. My mother says 
the things which we cannot understand now in this 
life, will be made plain and clear to us in that brighter 
and better future existence, and our adoration of him 
who then reveals himself and his works to us more 
fully, will be infinitely heightened by these new revela- 
tions. Have there not been times when you did not 
Understand why your loving mother had to cross you 
in some of your wishes? And have you not as you 
have grown older seen the wisdom of her course with 
you? Can you doubt her love ?” 

“ Oh, no, George, I know she is the embodiment of 
all that is pure and good. I can sometimes see all these 
things as you do. But for weeks past I have felt that 
God is far from me, and when I read this letter from 
my mother a spirit of rebellion against him seemed to 
take possession of me, and now I have no inclination 
to pray to him as mother does, and say, ‘ Thy will be 
done.’” 

Richard being an only child, his wishes had gener- 
ally been indulged, and thus a selfish spirit had been 
fostered in him that was destined to mar his whole 
future life. He felt as the train was rapidly bearing 
him homeward the next day, that if God would spare 
his mother’s life, he could then love, and lift his prayers 


28 


CADDO; OR, 


to him. But this was not to be; for the operation, as is 
frequently the case in such maladies, was attended with 
more difficulty than the doctors had anticipated, as 
other complications than the tumor were met with, 
which made a successful operation impossible. So 
three days after Richard’s arrival at home, he was com- 
pelled to follow his dearest earthly friend to her grave. 

Dark, indeed, were the days and weeks that followed. 
For as his mother was gone, and his mother’s God was 
shut out of his heart, the consolation offered by sympa- 
thizing friends seemed to aggravate, rather than soothe 
him. Mrs. Cary, his mother’s sister, was the only one 
who could give him any consolation, and as her hus- 
band was quite ill, she was compelled to return home 
immediately after the funeral. He began to think that 
the doctors’ ignorance had been the cause of his moth- 
er’s death, and this led him to make the science and 
practice of medicine his life work. 

Mr. Blackfoot had been so completely engrossed in 
business that he failed to give the fatherly care and at- 
tention to his son that he so much needed; and since 
Mrs. Blackfoot was gone, many other cares, to which 
he had scarcely given a thought before, were now 
forced upon him. So when Richard expressed a desire 
to enter a medical college, Mr. Blackfoot left him to 
make his own choice in the matter, and furnished 
him all the money he wished, to gratify this desire, 
without requiring him, as his mother formerly did, to 
keep an accurate account of his expenditures. 

His associates at the medical college were very differ- 
ent from George Grant, nearly all of them being 
atheists; and before his first college year had ended, all 
reverence for his mother’s God, and'his mother’s Bible, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


29 


had left him. He seemed to consider it a mark of 
superior wisdom in himself, to be able to ridicule the 
Bible and discuss “The Mistakes of Moses.” His class- 
mates were not slow in learning that his father was 
wealthy, and they devised many schemes by which they 
could draw, indirectly, on Mr. Blackfoot’s bank account, 
which became a great annoyance to the old gentleman. 

During Richard’s first vacation at home, at the close 
of his first college year, he learned that his father was 
paying marked attention to a dashing belle of twenty- 
five — a Miss Rebecca Norton, from Baltimore, who had 
been spending much of her time in Albany since his 
mother’s death. Richard had good cause for the repug- 
nance he felt toward this woman; for at a party on 
Grand Avenue, to which both had been invited, she had 
unwittingly given him a deeper insight of her true char- 
acter than she was aware of. Miss Norton, with half a 
dozen other young ladies, were sitting in a group near 
the door of the drawing room, at which Richard was 
about to enter, when he heard his father’s name, coupled 
with Miss Norton’s, in a way that struck him with sur- 
prise and disgust. The door being slightly ajar, he 
halted a moment. “ Can it be possible?” thought he. 
“ If this is eavesdropping, I shall learn all I can now.” 

“O, Miss Norton, you can’t mean it, surely ! What 
will your Baltimore friends say when they hear you 
have married old Mr. Blackfoot ? Why, he is old 
enough for your grandfather.” 

* * What do I care for his age?” said Miss Norton.- 
“The older the better for my purpose. A cool half 
million isn’t so easily picked up every day.” 


30 


CADDO; OR , 


“Well, but you can never love such a man; and a 
marriage without any natural affinity will certainly 
be ” 

This was all that Richard could hear, as a slight 
draft of air from a door at the opposite end of the draw- 
ing room closed the door. But when he, some minutes 
later, entered the room, he was not long in learning 
from one of the young ladies, whose voice he had recog- 
nized, which lady it was that was so coolly planning to 
become his step-mother. 

John Blackfoot was a rather miserly bachelor of forty 
when he married Richard’s mother, and had been suc- 
cessfully engaged in the liquor business for many years. 
Why such a delicate Christian woman should marry a 
man who was so different from herself in every respect 
was a mystery to her friends; yet none doubted her 
affection for him, nor his for her, so far as he was capa- 
ble of such feeling. But he was a man of stern, inflex- 
ible will, and, by some, considered rather overbearing ; 
yet he was never unkind to his wife, or any one else, 
who quietly yielded to his will. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


31 


CHAPTER V. 

HOT WORDS, AND THE DIRE RESULT. 

“ As wanes the ebb and flow, 

So human fortunes rise and fall.” 


S OON after Richard entered on his second college 
year, he became involved in a disgraceful hazing 
scheme, on account of which he was not only about to 
be expelled from college, but was also subject to a heavy 
criminal prosecution. To save not only his son, but 
himself as well, from this disgrace, Mr. Blackfoot was 
compelled to pay out a much larger amount than all of 
his former expenditures had been for his son. This 
aroused the old gentleman’s indignation, and when 
alone with Richard in his room, he gave his son a most 
severe reprimand. 

“Richard,” said he, “it seems that since your 
mother died the very devil has been in you. For months 
past you have been constantly calling on me for money, 
and I find since coming here that it has been chiefly to 
get you out of some disgraceful scrape, or to pay a 
character of debts that no honorable young man would 
ever contract. And now I tell you, once for all, that I 
shall never help you out of any more such scrapes, but 
shall let the law take its course with you in the future. 
For even though it should place you behind prison bars, 
you never need hope for aid from me to prevent it. 
You have disgraced both yourself and me by such dis- 


32 


CADDO; OK, 


reputable conduct, until I cannot, nor ivill not, stand it 
any longer.” 

While Mr. Blackfoot had always been rather austere 
with his son, yet he had never given him so caustic a 
reprimand, and Richard, feeling that his father had been 
unnecessarily severe in his castigations, determined to 
resent this as an insult to his manhood, and retorted by 
saying : 

“ Well, old man, you can go home and give your at- 
tentions and money to that Baltimore belle, for I shall 
not bother you any more, as my tuition and expenses 
are provided for until I graduate, after which I can take 
care of myself.” 

Little did Richard dream of the effect this last inso_ 
lent retort would have upon his father’s future actions. 
But he now managed to keep out of further serious 
difficulties until he finished his medical course, and re- 
turning to Albany, he opened an office from which he 
hung the sign, “ R. Blackfoot, M. D., Physician and 
Surgeon.” 

In the meantime his father had married the Baltimore 
belle, who had been attracted far more by Mr. Black- 
foot’s wealth, than any natural affinity between the two ; 
while he had become infatuated by her dazzling beauty 
and bewitching manners, and took delight in lavishing 
his wealth and admiration upon her. Mrs. Blackfoot, 
the second, was not slow in learning that a coldness had 
sprung up between father and son, and she determined 
to make the most of her opportunities, to secure, through 
this breach, the lion’s share of Mr. Blackfoot’s wealth 
for herself and brother, Mr. Ezra Norton, of Baltimore, 
who was now spending much of his time at the Black- 
foot mansion. Richard had evinced quite an aversion 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


33 


toward Mr. Norton from the time they first met in his 
father’s parlor, for which Mrs. Blackfoot, one morning, 
upbraided him severely, saying, 

“ You should not treat my brother so coolly, Richard. 
I am sure he would treat you kindly if you would let 
him. Neither do I think you show that respect toward 
your indulgent father that is due from you to him as his 
son. Remember all that he has recently done for you 
in helping you out of those disgraceful complications at 
college, and then giving you a nice office, all fitted up 
for your occupancy, as soon as you came home.” • 

Richard would have meekly tolerated all that his 
step-mother said, if she had not so tauntingly referred 
to his college difficulties; but this was more than his 
quick temper could bear, and, turning to leave the room, 
he replied : 

“Madam, for I shall never call you by the sacred 
name of mother, it is my opinion that Mr. Norton is not 
the only one who has entered this house from mercenary 
motives, and I tell you frankly I have but little respect 
for any such stock.” 

So saying, he pulled the door to behind him with a 
heavy jar, and walked hastily to his office. 

“Never mind, young man,” soliloquized Mrs. Black- 
foot, as her eyes followed the receding form of Richard 
as he walked rapidly down the street, “nevermind, 
you’ll see the day you will be compelled to treat me 
with more respect than this. I shall let Mr. Blackfoot 
know how insolently his son treats us all.” 

Then going to the library, where her husband was 
reading the moaning paper, she related the incident that 
had just occurred in the parlor, for which she had been 
more to blame than Richard, but taking care to color 


34 


CADDO: OR , 


the whole affair in such a way as to* convince Mr. Black- 
foot that she was only trying to bring harmony in the 
family. 

“Why, my dear,” she exclaimed, in an injured tone, 
“I never dreamed that your son could treat me in so 
insolent a manner, here under your own roof. I know 
he objected to our marriage, but for him to tell me to 
my face that I married you for your money is more 
than I can bear. You know that no such mercenary 
motives ever entered my head, and to convince him of 
this fact, you might make your will to-day, giving him 
every dollar of your wealth at your death, only provid- 
ing that I shall not be thrown out as a common pauper 
on the cold charities of the world. Why, dear, I was 
only asking him to treat you with more respect, since 
you had always been so kind and indulgent to him.” 

Mr. Blackfoot was a man of few words, and of a 
stern, uncompromising nature. Remembering the inso- 
lent language of his son, under his own severe rebuke 
while at college, he was the more ready to side with his 
wife against Richard, without giving the latter a chance 
to be heard. 

“Rebecca, said he, “that boy shall treat you with 
deference, at least. And, as life is uncertain, I shall so 
arrange my affairs to-day that there shall be no question 
as to who is entitled to respect here. I shall deed the 
office that Richard now occupies, together with the resi- 
dence property adjoining it, to him, and give him $5,000 
in cash, and shall advise him to make the most of it, 
as this is all he shall have from my estate while you 
live, unless you see fit to divide with him. Then I 
shall will all of the remainder of my property, of every 
character, to you.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


35 


“ O, my dear, I cannot ask so much of you, and I 
surely do not wish to wrong Richard in any way, for 
doubtless he regrets, ere this, that he used such harsh 
and unjust language to me, and will make all due apology 
if you ask him to do so.” 

“No, Rebecca, I know my son better than you do, 
and as he has never apologized to me for the insolent 
language he used to me last year at college, it is not 
probable that he will treat you with more consideration, 
until he learns that it will be to his pecuniary interest 
to do so.” 

“Well, then, would it not be better for you to will 
your real estate to me in fee-simple, so that I should 
have unincumbered control of it, and then will half of 
the remainder to Richard? This would show that you 
are willing to do a generous thing by him, dear.” 

“Iam willing to leave the real estate to you as you 
suggest, Rebecca, but I do not think it will be best to 
pnt him in a position in which he would be able to 
harass you in your business. So I shall also place him 
at your mercy, by willing my personal property to you 
besides, and if you see proper to give any part to him, 
as you doubtless will, if he treats you with due respect, 
you can do so. This will, at lesst, teach him a whole- 
some lesson, and I dare not leave him in a position to 
give you trouble.” 

This was just the object for which Mrs. Blackfoot 
and her brother had been scheming for weeks, and she 
was not only delighted, but also surprised, at its easy 
accomplishment. So, throwing her arms around her 
husband’s neck, and giving him as affectionate a kiss as 
she was capable of, replied : 


36 


CADDO; OR , 


“ I know you are the dearest and best man on earth, 
John, and I shall trust you to arrange all these matters, 
for I don’t understand such business. But I hope it 
will be many long years that you will be spared to me, 
for your personal protection is much better and safer than 
any will could be.” 

Mr. Blackfoot had never made a confidant of his son, 
and the morning scene in the parlor, as depicted by his 
wife, aroused his anger to such a point that he was in 
no mood to render Richard justice, and it was easy for 
him to make the will just as he had promised his wife 
that it should be. So, going to his office, where his 
attorney was to meet him at ten o’clock, to arrange 
some other business matters, he had the lawyer write 
out his will substantially as agreed upon between him- 
self and wife. 

“Would you allow me,” said his attorney, 1 ‘ to suggest 
that you are practically disinheriting your son? This 
leaves him entirely at the mercy of his step-mother, 
unless you make provision for him in some way before 
this will shall take effect.” 

“That I shall do, and you may write out a deed to 
the office and residence on North C street, which I shall 
transfer to him, with a sufficient sum of money to start 
him comfortably in business. Besides this, my wife 
will be as generous in her treatment of him as his con- 
duct toward her will warrant.” 

After having his will properly attested, Mr. Blackfoot 
drew his check for $5,000, payable to his son’s order, 
and placed it, with the will and deed just written, in his 
pocket, and, after giving some directions about the store 
and warehouse, returned to his library, taking his attor- 
ney, who was a notary, with him. Then, stepping to 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


37 


the parlor, where his wife and her brother were engaged 
in earnest conversation, said: 

“Rebecca, please come with me;” and on the way 
to the library said : 4 4 1 have transferred that property 
on North C street to Richard, and wish your signature 
to the deed.” 

After this matter was duly arranged, and his attorney 
had retired, Mr. Blackfoot gave the will to his wife and 
told her to take care of it;, but advised her to reveal 
nothing of its contents to any one. The first require- 
ment she readily complied with, but the latter had 
already been violated, as she and her brother had spent 
the last hour in discussing their future plans and pros- 
pects, after she had related to him the coversation 
between herself and husband with reference to the will. 


38 


CADDO; OR, 


CHAPTER VI. 

A HASTY FATHER AND AN ANGRY SON. 

‘‘ Content, we may be, to live unknown, 

But never to live unloved.” 

T WO months prior to the occurrence of the incidents 
mentioned in the preceding chapter, Mr. J. D. 
Ludy, a druggist, of Kingston, N. Y. , located in Albany. 
He was a widower, with three daughters, the eldest of 
whom, Josephine, was a handsome young lady of nine- 
teen, rather above the medium size, and very attractive 
in her appearance. She frequently assisted her father 
in his drug store, and here Richard first met her. From 
a desire to become better acquainted with Miss Ludy, 
young Dr. Blackfoot not only frequently called at this 
drug store for his medical supplies, but also occasionally 
invited her to take rides with him. Josie was not the 
only girl in Albany who, supposing the young Doctor 
was to be the chief heir of the Blackfoot estate, deter- 
mined to make herself especially attractive to him. 
There was, however, a certain coarseness in her manners 
that struck Richard unfavorably, and it is not probable 
that their acquaintance would ever have ripened into 
more than a passing friendship, but for an incident 
which occurred some weeks later. 

Mrs. Blackfoot was subject to nervous headache, and 
one of her paroxysms coming on early one morning, 
Mr. Blackfoot called at the Ludy drug store for an 
anodyne which she used on such occasions. Although 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


68 


he had previously met Miss Ludy at the house of a 
friend, and also frequently on the street, as he passed 
their place of business daily in going to his own office, 
yet never before had he seen her when she presented 
such an untidy appearance, with her hair disheveled, 
dress dirty, and her entire make up slatternly in the 
extreme. But what disgusted him more than her lack 
of neat attire, was the fact that she was dealing out the 
drinks to a set of second class topers, who had not yet 
quite reached the point of regular saloon or doggery 
customers. She was so busily engaged that she did not 
notice Mr. Blackfoot’s entrance, and the conversation 
going on between customers and clerk was not any 
more refined than was the general appearance of the 
latter to Mr. Blackfoot; for while he was a wholesale 
liquor dealer himself, it did not strike him as being the 
proper thing for a young lady to become a bar-tender 
in retailing it. 

“Dod blast it! Bill,” said John Wilder, “you’ve got 
to set ’em up this mornin’. I’ve been cornin’ down with 
the rocks all the week; and you scooped in Tom Haw- 
kins’ pile last night, so come down with the scabs now, 
old boy.” 

“All right, Jack,” said Bill Turner, throwing down 
a ten dollar bill, “ I was a durned lucky dog last night, 
though I ain’t even with Tom yet. But I’ll get there, 
and don’t you forget it. There’s nothin’ wrong in 
beatin’ the devil at his own game, is there, Miss Ludy?” 

“ Oh, no. Pa says its every one for himself in this 
world, and I guess he’s about right. So, as you are in 
luck this morning, let me fill up your glasses again with 
some of our fine old Bourbon,” she replied, wishing to 
retain as much of the ten dollar bill as possible for her 


40 


CADDO; OR, 


father’s money drawer, before giving back the change. 

“ All right,” said Turner, “give us a bumper, and tell 
the Governor when he gets up that you’ve taken in more 
scabs before breakfast than he’ll take in before dinner.” 

After the young men had emptied their glasses, Miss 
Ludy laughingly passed the change over the counter, 
and said: 

“ Call again, gentlemen. We shall always be glad to 
have you divide your good luck with us ; and the ‘ Gov- 
ernor, as you call my pa, will always keep the best 
drinks to be found in the market.” 

“Oh, certainly, Josie,” said Sam Harter, as they all 
moved toward the door; “ it’s worth the price of the 
drinks to be waited on by you, so the old man can bet 
his bottom dollar on holding our custom.” 

Josie blushed slightly as Mr. Blackfoot stepped for- 
ward for the anodyne; not so much on account of the 
business she had just been engaged in, as that of her 
untidy appearance. All this transpired within a few 
moments of time, but Mr. Blackfoot had been given an 
unintentional revelation of Josie’s true character. 

“Can it be possible,” thought he, as he hastily 
walked homeward, “ that Richard is such a blind fool 
as not to see the coarseness of this girl’s character? 
Only yesterday he had her out riding again. I shall 
tell him this very day what I have seen and heard this 
morning.” 

On entering his wife’s room, she noticed the troubled 
expression that clouded his face, and anxiously said : 

“What is it, dear? Something is troubling you. 
Has Richard been displeasing you again? He certainly 
has learned nothing of the will.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


41 


“Yes, Rebecca, Richard is displeasing me; he is 
making a most consummate fool of himself, and com- 
promising us by his open attentions to that Miss Ludy.” 

He then related what he had just seen and heard at 
the drug store. 

“Surely,” said Mrs. Blackfoot, “Richard can have 
no serious intentions with reference to Josie Ludy. She 
is too low for him. My aunt, Mrs. Munson, knew them 
well at Kingston. She says Mr. Ludy was formerly 
wealthy, having heired quite a fortune through his wife, 
whose father was vastly rich; but through his own 
profligate and dissipated habits, he had squandered the 
greater part of his wife’s estate. He would frequently 
leave his business for weeks at a time, and his wife and 
daughters were compelled to manage the store as best 
they could. His wife’s health finally failed, from care 
and over-work, and six months ago she died, leaving 
Mr. Ludy so nearly helpless that, under his financial 
embarrassment, he was compelled to exchange his large 
drug house in Kingston for this small store here. And 
it is said that not only Mr. Ludy, but his daughters also, 
are better judges of drinks than of drugs.” 

“Then,” said Mr. Blackfoot, “this girl and her 
sisters have grown up with but limited social or educa- 
tional advantages, and she expects her pretty face to 
atone for all these deficiencies.” 

“Yes,” replied Mrs. Blackfoot, “this seems to be 
the case, and I hope you will spare no effort with Rich- 
ard to prevent any further intimacy with this girl. Tell 
him that I should never feel like giving her a welcome 
to our home.” 

“I shall call at Richard’s office,” said Mr. Blackfoot, 
“as I go to the store this morning, and open his eyes 
4 


42 


CADDO; OR, 


on this subject. He must be shown what a fool he is 
making of himself.” 

Richard was in his office earlier than usual that morn- 
ing. He had just received his last medical journal, and 
was much interested in a discussion on surgery, the first 
chapter of which had been given in a previous number. 
As there had not many pleasant words passed between 
himself and father for some weeks past, he was rather 
annoyed at this interruption. So, noting the look of 
displeasure on his father’s face, betokening a coming 
storm, he said : 

“What’s the trouble with you, now ? Have some of 
the clerks been stealing again? You look as if you had 
lost your last friend.” 

“Trouble enough, Richard, when my son is con- 
stantly disgracing his parents by giving his open atten- 
tions to such a low lout as that Josie Ludy. Why, she 
is nothing but a bar-tender, and your mother has just 
told me this morning of her low origin.” 

He had intended to tell his son what he had seen and 
heard at the drug store that morning; and had he 
kindly done so, instead of quoting his wife’s opinion in 
reference to Josie, his object would probably have been 
accomplished. But the mention of his step-mother fired 
Richard’s anger at once, and he hotly replied: 

“Father, you can just tell that woman whom you 
call wife, but whom I shall never call mother, that if 
she will be so kind as to attend to her own business, I 
shall attend to mine ; for since I am nearly as old as she 
is, I think I can make my own selection of the society 
that will be most congenial to me. And if I could not, 
I should certainly never stoop to ask her advice as to 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


43 


what ladies I shall call on, or whom I shall invite to 
ride with me.” 

“ Nor mine either, I suppose you might have added,” 
said his father. 

“Nor yours either, sir, in such matters as this,” was 
the quick retort. 

“ Well, sir, since you have determined to go to the 
dogs, and refuse to heed my advice, you will have no 
one to blame but yourself for the consequences of your 
blind folly.” 

The chasm between father and son had been gradu- 
ally widening since Richard’s first college year, and 
now the point of reconciliation seemed to be forever 
past. He sat for a long time musing after his father 
left him. 


44 


CADDO; OR, 


CHAPTER VII. 

A HASTY MARRIAGE. 

Mr. Norton had been so much elated over his sister’s 
prospects, and his own incidentally through her’s, that 
he told a few of his friends very confidentially how 
matters had been arranged in the will. These in turn 
told their very confidential friends in a similar manner, 
and thus it was passed from friend to friend, until it 
reached Richard’s ears a fortnight before the interview 
referred to in the preceding chapter. 

“Curse that scheming woman,” growled Richard, 
“she is not content with robbing me, but now attempts 
to stab Josie in the dark. Well, Josie is not the kind 
of a girl I shall select for a wife, but I pity her and 
shall now show that she-devil how much I care for her 
advice. As I promised to leave an anodyne with Mrs. 
Page this morning, I shall drive past the drug store and 
ask Miss Ludy to take a ride with me this afternoon.” 

Josie was so deeply mortified by Mr. Blackfoot’s 
scrutinizing gaze at her untidy appearance that morning 
that she determined never again to be caught in such a 
slatternly plight, and had taken extra pains in arranging 
her hair, and complete attire, as soon as her father 
could come in to take charge of the store. So when 
young Dr. Blackfoot entered, she presented a more fas- 
cinating appearance to him than ever before. It is 
needless to say that she accepted his invitation for an 
afternoon ride. His father’s uncomplimentary remarks 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


45 


with reference to Josie awakened his curiosity to 
learn more of her true character and history; so while 
they were slowly riding over a rough place on the 
outskirts of the city, he said : 

* ‘ Miss Ludy, how do you like mercantile business ? 
I see you help your father frequently in the drug store.” 

Josie blushed deeply as she thought of the kind of 
help Mr. Blackfoot had found her rendering that morn- 
ing, and so stammered out : 

“I am not sure what you mean, but must say that 
there are some parts of the drug business that I do not 
like at all. But then you know competition is so close 
and sharp in our line, that we have to resort to all fair 
means to hold our trade. Do you think it improper for 
a young lady to help her father in the mercantile 
business ? ” 

“Why, no, Miss Ludy, I don’t see why it should be 
in your line, although I have not been accustomed to 
such things. My father has always ridiculed the idea 
of ladies clerking in a store; but then as he has always 
been engaged in the liquor business, I sometimes think 
that the very nature of the business has given him a 
coarser view of mercantile life than he otherwise would 
have had.” 

“ I have thought, Doctor, that your father was rather 
unsocial, and perhaps this accounts for it. I have felt 
also that he objects to your being seen in my company. 
Am I mistaken, Doctor?” 

“He objects to almost everything that I do, Miss 
Ludy ; but I think that scheming step-mother of mine is 
at the bottom of all the trouble, and so long as we are 
satisfied with each other’s company I shall pay but little 
attention to their wishes in the matter.” 


46 


CADDO; OR, 


Josie’s heart gave a great throb of delight as she 
listened to Richard’s last words, for while she had at 
first been attracted by his prospective wealth, she was 
now conscious of a deeper feeling springing up in her 
heart for the young Doctor. And fearing that his father 
would, if he had not already given his description of the 
scene in the drug store that morning, she determined to 
place herself in as fair a light as possible, knowing that 
the true stajte of her father’s affairs, and the character of 
his drug store, would probably be discovered soon by 
Richard. So blushing deeply, she said : 

‘ * I know your father must have thought me a fright 
this morning; but my papa’s health having been poor 
ever since mother died, I have to open the store while he 
takes his morning nap, and sometimes our customers 
call so early that I have no time to arrange my toilet. 
Then, as we cannot afford to lose any of our trade, even 
though a part of it does come from those who may, at 
times, indulge too freely in stimulants, you can see the 
position this necessarily places us in. ' If we were 
wealthy, as we once were, I should not be under the 
necessity of doing such things, and I hope your father 
and step-mother will not be too hard on me for what I 
cannot help.” 

Josie could not have selected better words for striking 
a responsive chord in Richard’s heart than those with 
which she closed her plea. As the setting sun threw 
a clear, soft light over her features, revealing the blushes 
brought there, partly through mingled joy and fear, 
Richard thought he had never seen her looking so 
lovely, and having inherited much of his father’s quick, 
impulsive nature, he did what many others have done, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


47 


without giving a thought to the importance of the step 
taken, and said : 

“ Josie, I don’t care a straw for what my father and 
step-mother think of you or myself, if I can feel sure of 
your confidence and love. Josie, will you be my wife ?” 

“Oh, Richard, are you in earnest? Do you really 
mean what you say ?” 

In looking down into the blushing girl’s eyes he saw 
there was no danger of a refusal, so replied : 

“Yes, Josie, every word of it, and if you say so, we 
will drive right to the Clerk’s office for the necessary 
papers, and will go home as man and wife.” 

“ O! won’t that be too romantic for anything?” said 
she. “Yes, Richard, I shall be proud of the position 
you can give me as your wife, and I am ready for this 
happy episode now, if you are.” 

Thus was the most important step in life taken by 
both, with scarcely a thought of the serious consequences 
involved. He, under the passing fancy that, as she was 
a handsome woman, he could probably be as happy 
with her as any one ; and then he wished to promptly 
show his contempt, not only for his step-mother, but 
also for his father’s choice in the matter; while she was 
delighted with the thought that she was securing a 
proud position in society, with a man that she could 
probably love as well as any one with whom she had 
yet met. 


48 


CADDO ; OR , 


CHAPTER VIII. 

DEATH BY SLOW POISONING. 

rPEN years have passed over the heads of Dr. Black- 
X foot and wife since the occurrences mentioned in 
the preceding chapter, and yet no reconciliation be- 
tween father and son has been effected. The young 
Doctor had found it difficult to work into remunerative 
practice in a large city, where there were so many older 
and well established physicians. Much of his practice 
had been amongst those contemptible specimens of hu- 
manity who infest all localities, and who impose on new 
doctors and merchants by getting in debt to them as 
deeply as possible, with no intention of ever paying a 
dollar of honest accounts. 

As some of these customers had made great preten- 
sions as reformers and temperance workers, they had 
been able to impose on the young Doctor’s credulity to 
a greater extent than they otherwise could have done. 
This caused him to hate all real reformers, and he re- 
solved to ally himself with what he called “respectable 
saloonists and free thinkers ”. 

As his father-in-law had lost, not only his property, 
but his health, and his standing as a business man, 
through dissipation, Richard took charge of what little 
stock was left, and opened a “drug store” in name, but 
a saloon in fact, in his own office, and gave Mr. Ludy a 
clerk’s position, as he was now dependent on his children 
for support. This position he held but a short time, as 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


49 


his habits of dissipation brought on an attack of de- 
lirium tremens, which closed his earthly career. His 
two younger daughters had married saloon-keepers and 
were far from being happily situated in life : the older 
of the two dying from abuse and neglect, and leaving 
three worse than orphan children to be cast adrift on 
the cold charities of the world. 

About this time, old Mr. Blackfoot began relenting 
toward his son, and resolved to make some advances 
toward a reconciliation, by presenting to Richard a 
valuable piece of property and five thousand dollars in 
cash. To this his wife readily assented, but at heart she 
bitterly protested against it, as she feared it might be 
the beginning of a complete reconciliation between 
father and son, which would probably result in the 
transfer of much more valuable property. 

A short time after this transaction with his son, Mr. 
Blackfoot’s health began failing rapidly. 

With the best medical counsel Richard could pro- 
cure in the city, they seemed powerless to check the 
progress of the disease. In fact, there seemed to be 
a mystery about the case from the start, which they 
were unable to fathom. 

As the disease progressed, Mr. Blackfoot became 
very uneasy, and one day when his wife and Bridget 
McCarthy, one of their servants, were alone with him, 
he said : “Rebecca, I am feeling badly and may not be 
able to talk much more, and I am not satisfied with the 
way I have treated Richard. I know my will is not 
just as it should be, and I should like to talk with you 
and Richard together over these matters, for I wish to 
make some changes in my will, as I shall feel better 


50 


CADDO; OR , 


with the assurance that you and Richard will get along 
pleasantly when I am gone.” 

This was the very thing feared more than all else, by 
Mrs. Blackfoot, but knowing her husband’s determined, 
inflexible will, she thought best to seemingly assent to 
all he said, but with an inward determination to pre- 
vent any such action, she replied : ‘ ‘Whatever you wish, 
dear, in this matter shall be done ; but you are too ill 
now to attend to such business. Please try to rest now, 
and when you are feeling better we will have Richard 
come, and you and he can arrange all of this business 
as you wish, but you must not worry over such matters 
now.” 

“Well, Rebecca, I’ll wait until to-morrow, if you 
think best; and if I am no better by that time, we will 
have Richard come and we will talk this business over 
together, so there will be a clear understanding between 
you as to how I wish these matters arranged.” 

“Very well, dear, but you need rest and sleep now, 
and it is time for you to take another dose of medicine.” 

After this dose was administered, Mr. Blackfoot soon 
fell into a troubled sleep, from which he never fully 
awakened to consciousness, and death ensued three 
days afterward. 

Richard spent the most of his time at his father’s 
bedside during the last three days of his life, although 
his step-mother insisted on giving the medicine when- 
ever Dr. Johnson, the physician who had the case in 
charge, was not present. 

The day before Mr. Blackfoot died, as Dr. Johnson 
was about administering a dose of sweet spirits of nitre, 
he halted after pouring it out in the spoon, tasted it, 
took it to the window, shook his head, put the bottle in 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


51 


his pocket, took out another bottle from his medicine 
case, tasted it, after which he gave the dose out of the 
latter bottle. 

On going back to his office, he analyzed the contents 
of the bottle labeled “Sweet Spirits of Nitre,” and de- 
tected a considerable quantity of a well known deadly 
poison in it. He called again in the afternoon, but no 
material change was apparent in his patient. 

How the poison got into the nitre was a mystery to 
him. “Could it have been a mistake of the druggist?” 
If there had been much of the contents of that bottle 
administered, he could now readily understand the 
cause of the peculiar symptoms in this case. 

He knew there had been a bitter feeling between 
Richard and his father for years, but dared not accuse 
him of such a dastardly crime as that of slowly poison- 
ing his father in this manner. That there were strong 
indications of slow poisoning in this case, he could no 
longer doubt. 

But what could he do? It was a dangerous move to 
accuse Richard of this, for if he should prove his inno- 
cence there was strong probability that he would turn 
the tables on him and prosecute him for slander and 
malpractice beside. 

If Rebecca Blackfoot were the guilty party, how 
could he prove it ? She would have wealth and friends 
in plenty for defense. He was in a fearful dilemma, ♦ 
and was utterly at a loss to know what course to pursue. 
He determined, however, to make a careful record 
of all suspicious points that he discovered in the case, 
and file away with his private papers for future refer- 
ence in case any new evidence should be developed. 


52 


CADDO; OR , 


Richard also had his suspicions aroused by certain 
movements that he had at times noticed, between his 
step-mother and her brother, Mr. Norton ; but as Dr. 
Johnson had said nothing about what he had discovered, 
and as there was nothing definite that he could prove, 
he thought best to keep his fears to himself, since he 
now saw clearly that his father could not survive many 
hours. 

He left the sick-room for a few minutes, and went 
down to the medicine closet, he hardly knew why; but 
he noticed that Bridget was watching him closely. 

In looking through the medicine bottles, he saw one 
labeled with the name of the deadly poison it contained, 
but this bottle was nearly empty. 

“Bridget,” said he, “What has this medicine been 
used for ?” 

“ Troth, an’ Oi connot tell yez, at all at all, phwat 
ony av the bottles are good for. Oi am no docthor in- 
toirly.” 

“I didn’t ask you what it was good for, but what it 
had been used for.” 

“Midical purposes, Oi suppose, sorr,” was the ready 
reply. This led Richard to believe that she knew 
more than she was ready to tell, and he determined to 
work into her good graces if possible ; but then was not 
the time. 

He put the bottle in his pocket and went over to his 
office to leave word with his family that he should not 
be at home again before morning, and while there he 
locked the bottle containing the poison in his private 
drawer. Hastening back, he remained at his father’s bed- 
side untill death closed the scene at six o’clock the fol- 
lowing morning. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


53 


The funeral occurred two days after, and was con- 
ducted much as the funerals of rich men generally are ; 
but the widow and her brother, Mr. Norton, appeared 
to be the chief mourners. 


54 


CADDO; OK, 


CHAPTER IX. 

A FEARFUL RETRIBUTION. 

N OT long after the funeral, complications so per- 
plexing came up, that Mrs. Blackfoot was soon 
convinced of her inability to manage the large business 
in which her husband had been engaged ; so she deter- 
mined to close out the entire stock to the highest bidder, 
and convert everything into cash. She also placed all 
of her real estate (except the residence property which 
she and her brother occupied) in the hands of real 
estate agents for sale ; thus before she had been three 
months a widow, her means were mostly converted into 
cash and bank stock. 

Then followed a long, expensive and fruitless lawsuit, 
under Richard’s efforts to break the will. Failing in 
this, he determined, if possible, to learn what Bridget 
McCarthy knew about that bottle of poison. So he had 
Molly, his wife’s servant girl, to often invite Bridget to 
spend her evenings at his house ; and by allowing several 
other Irish servant girls, with their beaux, to occupy 
his dining room of evenings, it became a favorite resort 
for her, and she soon felt as much at home in Dr. 
Blackfoot’s dining room as she ever had in that of the 
old gentleman, his father. He frequently made her 
nice but inexpensive presents; but months passed before 
he could succeed far enough in gaining her confidence 
to get any revelations on the points desired. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


55 


One evening, after she had indulged quite freely in 
the cheap drinks he had furnished his Irish dining room 
party, he took her into his office just before the party 
dispersed, under a pretense of wishing to send some 
word to her mistress. Taking out the bottle containing 
the poison, and handing it to her, he said : 

“Bridget, can you tell me anything about this 
bottle.” 

“Yis, sorr, I seed yez take that bottle out o’ me 
Missus’ medicine closet, jist beyant the day yer father 
doied.” 

“ How do you know, Bridget, that this is the same 
bottle ?” 

“Because me Missus towld me she wud gev me tin 
dollars ef I wud always put thra dhraps o’ that in Mr. 
Blackfoot’s coffee, as he was gettin’ owld and naded 
a stimulant ; but she towld me to be keerful and not put 
it in her’s, nor any one elses. So I put that cross mar- 
ruck on it to make sure ave no mistakes.” 

‘ ‘ Did you always put three drops of this medicine in 
my father’s coffee ?” 

“Yis, and sometimes more, for I wud not be afther 
stintin’ the owld jintleman in a little thing loike that.” 

“ But did you not know, Bridget, that this is a deadly 
poison ?” 

“ Poison , Doctor ? No. By all the holy saints, I 
thocht it wud be good fer his stomach. She niver 
towld me it was poison, at all at all. An’ its mesilf that 
was innocent as an unborrn babe, of wantin’ to mur- 
ther your father, it is.” 

“Well, Bridget, you must remember all these things, 
for I shall want you to testify in court on all these 
points. But say nothing to your mistress about any- 


56 


CADDO; OR, 


thing we have been talking of, or you may get into 
trouble. Some one will go behind the bars for this 
yet.” 

Richard’s last words had not been well chosen, for 
they alarmed Bridget, and soon after returning home, 
Mrs. Blackfoot noticed something wrong with her 
servant. 

“What troubles you, Bridget?” said she ; “you look 
as if you had lost all your friends.” 

“Ow, Mrs. Blackfoot, that the loikes of me should go 
to the pinatintiary fer murtherin’ me masther, whin I 
didn’t know it was poison at all that I was puttin’ in his 
coffee for wakes and wakes before he doied.” 

“ Hush, Bridget, it’s no such thing,” said Mrs. Black- 
foot. “Who says so ?” 

Mrs. Blackfoot was now thoroughly alarmed, and after 
bolting the dining room door and having Bridget close 
all the window shutters, she called her servant to a chair 
by her side, and said : 

“ Now, Bridget, you must tell me all about this, for 
you know I am your friend, and I fear some one is 
bent on giving you trouble. Who says you poisoned 
my husband ? Did Richard say anything to you about 
it ?” 

“Yis, an’ he says its mesilf that shall go intill the 
coort an’ tell all I know about the poison.” 

“ Didn’t I tell you, Bridget, to say nothing to any one 
about the medicine ? And here you have been talking 
to Richard about it.” 

“Ow, Mrs. Blackfoot, he says I kilt his father with 
that medicine ye towld me to put in his coffee ; an’ he 
says some one will have to go behind the prison bars 
for this yet. An’ Saint Pathrick himself knows I 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


57 


wouldn’t ha’ done it for the wurruld ef I had known it 
was poison.” 

Mrs. Blackfoot knew her only hope now was, either 
to get Bridget out of the way, or to keep her so com- 
pletely terrified that she would not dare to testify to 
what she knew. So she sent her to her room, saying : 
“ I’ll tell you in the morning what to do.” 

It was long after midnight when she and her brother, 
Ezra, retired that night. But the conclusion arrived at 
was to make Bridget believe this was a trick of Richard’s 
to get her into trouble. They feared that sending her 
away would only strengthen the evidence against them, 
and she would probably in time be found anyway. $o 
the next morning Mrs. Blackfoot told her servant that 
the only way she could keep out of trouble with Richard, 
was to refuse to say a word to him or any one else about 
the matter. 

“If you answer no questions from any one, nor speak 
to any one about this, you will have no trouble, Bridget.” 

‘ * Be the powers, its Bridget McCarthy that kin kape 
any sacret ye would be afther askin’ me to, an’ sure.” 

So when Richard met her on the street a few days 
after this, and told her he wished to see her again soon, 
alone, she quickly revealed the fact to him that he could 
not rely on her for any evidence in the case ; and, as he 
had no other clew, he was at a loss what course to 
pursue. He was comparatively poor, and his step- 
mother could command her hundreds of thousands. 
He had been badly worsted in one lawsuit with her, and 
he did not care to enter another without all the necessary 
fortifications for success. A new, but diabolical thought, 
now struck him. ‘ ‘ Bridget has been hired to put poison 
in my father’s coffee, and possibly she could be hired 

5 


58 


CADDO; OR , 


to put it in another person’s.” But to carry out this 
scheme, he must have one other accomplice. He knew 
that Ed. O’Leary was waiting on Bridget; but as he had 
no property, she was in no hurry to marry him. So 
calling Ed. into his private office that evening, he said 
to him : 

“ Ed., how would you like to be a rich man inside of 
six months ?” 

“Be gorry, Docthor, an’ its nothing I wad loike 
bether.” 

“Well, Ed., if you can keep a secret, and help me 
out with a little job I have on hand, I’ll give you two 
thousand dollars. That’s a thousand each for you and 
Bridget.” 

“Troth, Docthor, an’ I’ll go ’till the ind of the earth 
for yez, for spakin’ thim good worruds ’till Bridget last 
wake for me; an’ its Ed. O’Leary that kin kape all the 
sacrets in the wurruld, for half the money.” 

Richard then told Ed. that he now had proof that his 
step-mother had slowly poisoned his father, but that the 
evidence was of such a character he could not rely on it 
in a suit for conviction. He said she ought to be hung, 
but as he doubted the possibility of a conviction under 
the circumstances, his plan was to take a short cut for 
justice. 

“Now, Ed.,” said Richard, “that she-devil over 
yonder intends to swear that Bridget willfully and 
maliciously poisoned my father, by putting poison out 
of this very bottle into his coffee, and by this means 
shield herself. She has plenty of money and friends 
that will help her prove it, if the case ever comes to a 
trial ; and I think she, with her brother, Ezra Norton, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


59 


and her attorney, are slowly working up the case, as 
they have frequently been seen in close consultation of 
late. Now, I wish to save Bridget, and so do you. 
And the only way I see to do it is to get that black- 
hearted she-devil out of the way as soon as possible.” 

“Be the powers, Docthor, yez wouldn’t have me to 
go an’ murther her, would yez ?” 

“O, no, Ed., not that way. If Bridget will just put 
three or four drops out of this into her coffee every day, 
she will just get sick and die ; and as she has to die some 
time, it is just as well for her to die before she gets 
Bridget into trouble.” 

This was a far more dangerous undertaking than 
O’Leary had dreamed of, and if it had not been for 
the r adroit manner in which Dr. Blackfoot depicted 
Bridget’s danger, he would have shrunk from it with 
horror. But he would risk anything to save her; so he 
promptly accepted the part that the Doctor wished him 
to play in the tragedy. The result was as Richard 
planned it should be. Six weeks later, Mrs. Black- 
foot’s remains were placed in the cemetery by the side 
of her husband, who had, from the same cause, been 
carried there less than twelve months before. Both she 
and Mr. Blackfoot had made wealth and power the idols 
of their ambition. They had lived selfish, Godless 
lives, and their lamps had gone out in darkness and 
utter gloom. They died, worshiping the very idols that 
had been the instigation of their deaths. A sad com- 
mentary on avaricious lives, spent only for worldly gain 
and position. 


60 


CADDO: OR, 


CHAPTER X. 

A RECKLESS SPECULATOR. 

S OON after the death of Mr. Blackfoot, Dr. Johnson, 
who had had charge of his case, was fatally injured 
in a railway collision in Western New York, and was not 
able to be removed from the hospital, where he and the 
other wounded passengers had been cared for after the 
wreck. Knowing that he could only live a few days at 
most, he sent for Mr. Newman Clark, his attorney, for 
the purpose of having his business affairs more satisfac- 
torily arranged. After all other matters had been ad- 
justed, he said : 

“Mr. Clark, there is one o.ther matter that I have 
been watching ever since Mr. Blackfoot died, and you 
will find some written statements in reference to it, in 
the drawer with my other private papers. If there should 
ever be any developments that can throw any light on 
the subject, those papers may be of some value in the 
case. I am sure a dark crime has been committed in 
the Blackfoot mansion, but who the guilt rests upon, I 
have never been able to discover. Yet I believe that 
God, who says, “Though hand join in hand, yet the 
wicked shall not go unpunished,” will, in his own good 
time, bring the guilty parties to the bar of justice.” 

***** * * 

A few days before Mrs. Blackfoot's death, Ezra 
Norton, seeing the grave look on the face of Dr. Suth- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


61 


erland, the attending physician, followed him down to 
the hall below, and said : 

“ Doctor, what do you think of my sister’s case? She 
suffered such terrible paroxysms with her stomach last 
night that I became alarmed. Do you think there is 
any danger that she will not recover?” 

“I shall be frank with you, Mr. Norton,” said the 
Doctor ; 4 4 I fear there is but little chance for her. 
There seems to be something working against the medi- 
cine that I can’t understand ; and unless I can get it to 
take the effect I desire within the next forty-eight hours, 
there can be no hope for her recovery. Dr. Blackfoot 
is a well read man, and as he is her step-son, perhaps 
we had better call him for counsel in the case.” 

“No, never,” said Norton, “he and my sister bitterly . 
hate each other, and his very presence would make her 
worse.” 

This struck Dr. Sutherland as being rather strange, 
but seeming to take no notice of it, he replied : 

“Well, then, I shall call Dr. Banks in counsel with 
me this afternoon, as there is now no time to lose; and 
while I do not wish to alarm you or your sister, I would 
advise you to make preparations for the worst, for I 
think fatal results may be looked for in her case soon.” 

On going back to his sister’s sick room, Ezra said : 

44 Rebecca, the Doctor says you are very sick, and 
although no fatal results can be looked for soon, yet he 
thinks it prudent to have all your business affairs prop- 
erly adjusted while you are able to give such directions 
as you desire should be carried out, in case anything 
serious should happen. Dr. Banks will call with him 
this afternoon to see you, and I have been thinking it 
would be better for our business matters to be some- 


62 


CADDO; OR , 


what differently arranged in the meantime ; for in case 
of your sudden death, Dick Blackfoot would get the 
lion’s share of your estate, the way matters now stand.” 

44 Oh, you need not be alarmed, Ezra, I feel better 
this morning and I shall soon be all right again. But, 
of course, we never know what might happen to any of 
us, so it will be as well for us to make matters safe. I 
will give you checks for my deposits in the First and 
Third National Banks, and will transfer all my stocks 
and bonds to you to-day ; and if I am not better within 
a week or two, I will deed what real estate I have left, 
to you, for Dick Blackfoot shall never get a dollar of it, 
if I can prevent it. But if I get well, of course you will 
transfer as much of my property back to me as I shall 
need.” 

Ezra knew that the cash, bonds and bank stock, now 
constituted the principal part of her property, so he 
readily approved of his sister’s proposition. 

“I think, Rebecca,” said he, 4 4 your plan is a wise 
one ; and should you recover, every 'dollar shall be 
transferred back to you, if you wish it.” 

Thus, it was so arranged that the great bulk of the 
Blackfoot estate was forever placed beyond the reach of 
Richard. 

Ezra Norton had been furnished with money by his 
sister, whenever he wished to make investments. In 
some of his ventures he had been successful ; but as he 
had never had any business training, his speculations 
generally resulted in heavy losses. He now, since 
coming into possession of his sister’s estate, determined 
to become a millionaire, and bought stocks largely on 
the New York market. His first ventures proving re- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


63 


munerative, making him $30,000 in sixty days, here-in- 
vested every available dollar, including all that he could 
borrow, in the very worst stocks on the market. His 
weakness for fast horses, wine and women, had been 
growing on him rapidly since he had been supplied with 
ready money ; so there was now but little of the time 
that his head was clear enough to attend to business with 
any degree of sagacity. His agent in New York tele- 
graphed him for authority to close out his deal if he 
could not come to the city immediately, but fearing that 
he might delay any action for days if any horse race was 
on hand, he wrote him, in addition to the telegram, 
that his stocks were falling rapidly, and the only chance 
to save anything was to close out for what he could get. 
Norton coolly wrote his agent in reply to both the 
telegram and letter, “to keep cool and not be alarmed 
adding, 

“When I want the deal closed, I’ll let you know. I 
am going to attend the races at Syracuse to-morrow, 
and if nothing prevents, I shall be in the city by the last 
of the week.” 

After the races were over, he was so completely under 
the influence of wine for two days that he had forgotten 
all about his New York business; and it is doubtful when 
he would have thought of it again, if he had not received 
another telegram from his agent, urging him to come 
immediately to the city. He was now sufficiently sober 
to realize that he had recklessly neglected his business, 
and looking over the morning paper, saw that his stocks 
were quoted low enough to ruin hin. He took the first 
train to the city, but all he could do was to sell his 
stocks for what they would bring. And as he had 


64 


CADDO; OR, 


borrowed so largely in making his last purchases, the 
reckless deal had left him hopelessly bankrupt. He 
now began drinking harder than ever, and six months 
after his sister’s death, he was killed in a drunken row, 
and was buried as a common pauper in the potter’s 
field. Thus did the apples of sin so quickly turn to the 
ashes of Sodom, on the very lips of the devotee of vice. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


65 


CHAPTER XI. 


PRE-NATAL INFLUENCE. 


“Spare this one treasure — 
Take all else I have, O death.” 



HERE was but little left of the Blackfoot estate at 


the time Mrs. Blackfoot died, that she had not trans- 


ferred to her brother, except the old home and some 
other residence property. This real estate Richard now 
took possession of without opposition. He also had 
his attorney take steps for recovering at least a part of 
what had been transferred to Mr. Norton by his step- 
mother. But this was soon found to be a hopeless un- 
dertaking, as Norton had retained the best legal talent 
for defense in case of such an emergency \ and before 
anything definite could be done, the whole of it had 
been squandered through Norton’s stock-gambling and 
horse racing. 

The associations of the old homestead had been so 
fraught with bitterness to Richard for many years past, 
that he determined to sell it, with all of the other 
residence property, and leave Albany. But there are 
other points of interest in Dr. Blackfoot’s family, that 
the reader should understand before we follow them to 
their western home in Caddo. He and Josie had 
“hastily married,” and, as is generally the case under 
such circumstances, “leisurely repented” of their folly. 
While she really had some affection for him, she soon 
discovered that he had married her chiefly to spite his 


66 


CADDO; OR, 


father and step-mother, instead of from those finer feel- 
ings of the soul which cause a man to shield, cherish 
and idolize the object of his highest earthly affections. 
A separation would have taken place before the close 
of the first year of their married life, had it not been 
for the arrival of a sweet babe, which formed anew and 
binding link between them. There was one thing, 
however, on which they were in perfect harmony, and 
that was the accumulation of money ; and they had no 
scruples as to how it was obtained, provided they kept 
out of the clutches of the law. Any advantage they 
could take of the ignorance of those with whom they had 
dealings, was considered perfectly legitimate. Having 
been so largely cut out of their father's estate, they de- 
termined to make money the goal of their ambition, and 
if possible to surpass the old gentleman in wealth. 

About two years after the birth of their first born, 
another babe came into their home. While they had 
no warm affection for each other, yet they displayed 
more than ordinary parental love for their offspring — 
Archie and Belle, as they called them. When Belle, 
their second child, was a year old, Mrs. Cary, of 
Rochester, a sister to Richard’s mother, came to spend 
a few weeks with them. She, like her sister, Mrs. 
Blackfoot, had always lived a devoted Christian life. 
While both her nephew and his wife loved her for her 
many amiable and affectionate ways, and especially her 
passionate fondness for their children, yet they had no 
appreciation of her Christian graces, and could not un- 
derstand why she was at times so sad and tearful when 
talking of their children. She had only intended to 
spend a few weeks with them, and was about taking her 
departure at the end of the second month, when Archi- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


67 


bald was taken quite sick, and they begged her to 
remain a few days longer with them. This she the 
more readily consented to do, as she had not only lost 
her husband, but also her only child, and the mother 
heart in her was touched with a tender sympathy 
that only a bereaved mother can feel. 

“ Yes, Josie,” said she, “ I will remain until there is 
a change, for I love Archie almost as my own child, 
and I fear he is going to be very sick. ” 

Her predictions proved true. Both her husband and 
son had died with typhoid fever, and she was not slow in 
detecting the character of the disease now entering her 
nephew’s family. Archie had been permitted to spend 
much of his time in the store and on the street, and as 
a consequence had heard a great deal of obscene and 
profane language. Although he seldom used such 
words when well, yet in his delirium from the fever he 
was almost constantly uttering the most horrid oaths and 
the most shamefully indecent language. As he grew 
worse and weaker, it was seldom that a decent express- 
ion passed his lips. Nearly three weeks of raging 
fever had reduced the little victim almost to a skeleton, 
and he could scarcely speak above a whisper. All hope 
of his recovery was rapidly dying out of the hearts of 
the sad father, mother and aunt, who were watching by 
the bedside of the little sufferer. The shades of night 
were gathering over the city, and thick darkness and 
gloom over this sad household. The stricken parents 
now felt, as never before, how utterly helpless they were 
in the presence of death. 

It had been some hours since they had heard any 
articulate utterance from their suffering child, and they 
felt that the end was near. Mrs. Downing, a sympa- 


68 


CADDO ; OR, 


thizing friend, had called to inquire after the condition 
of the child, and the Aunt had momentarily left the 
room to bear the sad, hopeless news: “ I do not think 
he can live through the night, Mrs. Downing. He has 
not known any of us for the past two days.” 

“ Oh, dear ! Mrs. Cary, what will they do if they lose 
little Archie? Their whole souls are bound up in that 
child, and it will almost kill them to give him up.” 

“Yes,” said Mrs. Cary, “ and I much fear the conse- 
quences for her. She has never known the consolations 
of religion, and her whole being rebels against the bitter 
ordeal through which she is called to pass. Oh ! that 
she could only be led to that great Physician, from 
whom all help must come in such sad hours as this.” 

“Let us hope, Mrs. Cary, that this is God’s way of 
bringing the parents nearer to Himself.” 

“I do hope so, Mrs. Downing, and I have asked 
Him to help me lead them into the light of His love 
and favor, so that when the hardest blow shall come, it 
may soften their hearts toward the Hand that gives, and 
takes from us, those things which His infinite wisdom 
sees will work for our good.” 

Mrs. Cary’s prayer had in part been answered in a 
way she had not looked for, as in fact our prayers many 
times are. The first night she had spent in her nephew’s 
family, little Archie asked to “sleep with Auntie.” So, 
before putting him to bed, she had quite a long talk 
with him about the children’s Friend, who said : “ Suffer 
them to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such 
is the kingdom of heaven.” She taught him the com- 
forting sweetness of committing himself to the care of 
that loving Friend before closing his eyes in slumber, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


69 


and had him repeat with her that beautiful child’s 
prayer : “Now I lay me down to sleep.” 

While Mrs. Cary was talking with Mrs. Downing in 
the parlor, the anxious watchers were bending over 
their first-born with the keenest agony they had yet 
felt; for, soon after she had left the sick room, a con- 
vulsive shudder came over the child, and as this passed 
off it seemed to them their darling was dead, he lay so 
still. 

Richard was about to call his Aunt, when they caught 
the low, whispered words from the child’s lips : 

“ Now — I — lay me — ” 

“What is it, darling,” said Mrs. Blackfoot, as she 
bent still nearer the child. 

“ Down — to — sleep,” came the faintly whispered 
words. 

The father was about putting a wet sponge to his lips, 
when the slowly faltering whispers came : 

“I pray — the — Lord — my soul — to keep.” 

“Tell mamma what you want, dear. Mamma is 
here,” sobbed the mother. 

As if unconscious of the fact that he had been spoken 
to, the child’s feeble whispers came : 

“If I — should — die — before — I wake, I pray — the 
Lord — my soul — to — take.” 

“Oh! Archie! Archie! Mamma’s darling, must not 
die,” sobbed the stricken mother, while the tears came 
rolling thick and fast over Richard’s manly cheeks, as 
he remembered now that long forgotten prayer, learned 
in his early childhood days at his Christian mother’s knee. 
Mrs. Cary had returned in time to catch the last words 
of the little child’s prayer, and she, with Richard, now 


70 


CADDO; OK , 


felt that Archie’s last words had been uttered. Another 
slight struggle, and then the child was still. 

Was life extinct? The mother and Mrs. Cary thought 
so, and in a few moments Mrs. Blackfoot suffered herself 
to be led from the room by her sympathizing Aunt. 

“ Josie,” said she, as she kneeled by the lounge on 
which the sorrowing mother fell sobbing, “the God of 
pity and love only can help and comfort us in such sad 
afflictions as this. Let us go to Him for help.” 

‘ ‘ Oh ! Aunt, there is no God of pity and love, as you 
say, or He would not take my darling boy from me.” 

“ Don’t you believe that I pity and love you, Josie ? ” 

“ Oh ! yes, dear Aunt, you have proved a thousand 
times and ways, by your sleepless, watchful, anxious 
care with me for my darling, that you love and pity me. 
But God does not, or He would not take him from me, 
now that I love him so much.” 

“ I have watched with you, Josie, for a few short weeks 
only, while God has watched over you and me, with 
an unslumbering eye, all our lives; and when He takes 
our earthly treasures from us, He only wishes to draw 
us still nearer to Himself, where he designs that the 
great future of our existence shall be spent.” 

“Oh! Aunt, if he could only have been spared to 
me until manhood. It is so hard to give him up now.” 

“Did you ever ask your Heavenly Father to spare 
your darling, Josie ? Do you ever go to Him with your 
sorrows and cares?” 

“No, Aunt, I never prayed. I can’t. The future 
all looks dark to me. If there is a God, he would not 
hear such a wretch as I have always been.” 

“Josie, you must not forget the words of our loving 
Savior : Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


71 


cast out/ And, again : ‘ God so loved the world, that 

He gave His only Son that whosoever believeth in him 
should not perish, but have everlasting life Josie, 
could you possibly love Archie more than God loved 
Jesus, His only Son ? ” 

“Oh! Aunt, I never saw it in this light before. I 
wish I had always been with you, for I am sure I should 
have been a different woman, had such clear teaching 
been given me earlier in life; but I fear it is too late.” 

“Auntie,” called Richard from the parlor door, 
“Archie has revived again and calls for you.” 

Both ladies hurried back with lighest footfalls to the 
bedside of the little sufferer with a new born hope that 
his life might yet be spared. 

“Auntie — Auntie,” faintly whispered Archie. 

“ Here is Auntie and mamma dear,” said his mother, 
“ What is it, darling ?” 

“ Auntie — it is — dark — now ; say — ‘ Now I — lay me ’ 
— Auntie, and — tell papa— and mamma — too — how to 
say — ‘ I pray — the — Lord — my soul — to keep.” 

This unexpected call to her from the little sufferer, 
to lead the sorrow stricken parents to the Compassion- 
ate One, she dared not disregard. So, reverently 
and fervently, as only a loving Christian mother can, she 
poured forth from the fullness of her trusting heart such 
a petition to Him who noteth even the fall of a sparrow, 
that heaven itself seemed near ; for it seemed as if she 
had literally taken hold of the very hand of the 
Almighty, and asked, for the sake of Him who suffered 
in the garden and on the cross, that if it be possible 
this bitter cup might be removed from Richard and 
Josie’s lips, and their darling’s life be spared. She 


72 


CADDO; OR, 


closed with the meek, submissive words: “Yet not 
our will, but Thine, O, God, be done.” 

At the close of this prayer the child seemed to drop 
into the first quiet, natural sleep that they had noticed 
for more than two weeks, and the Doctor, watching 
him closely for a few minutes, said : 

“I believe there are favorable symptoms. See, 
Auntie, he is breathing easier.” 

“Oh, Aunt!” said Josie, “if he is yet spared to us, 
I shall believe your God is a loving Father and that He 
does hear and answer prayer.” 

“ I trust Josie, that every lesson in life will lead you 
more fully into the realization of this fact. I know it 
was hard for me to learn this lesson, and never until 
He had taken every idol from me, did I fully learn it. 
But thanks be to God who hath given me the victory, I 
can now say with one of old, who was deeply bereft : 
‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.’ 

“Oh ! that we could always remember, in every trial, 
however bitter, that Jesus invites us to come boldly, yet 
trustingly to Him with our burdens. He is so kindly 
and tenderly sympathetic, for He is touched with a 
feeling of our infirmities. In all our afflictions He is 
afflicted, and gladly gives joy for grief, to those who 
come trustingly to Him for aid in time of trouble.” 

For days, the child seemed to vibrate between life 
and death ; but within a week the symptoms were much 
more favorable, and then the recovery was steady and 
rapid. But the loss of sleep, anxiety and care, had 
been too much for Mrs. Blackfoot, and when the re- 
covery of her child seemed assured, her health and 
strength failed, and for days it seemed evident that she 
was taking the same fever with which her child had 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


73 


been afflicted. She overheard her husband and Aunt 
talking in an adjoining room, with reference to her 
case, when they supposed her to be sleeping. But she 
was not, neither was she much disturbed by what they 
unintentionally revealed to her. 

“ Yes,” said he, “I fear it is the typhoid fever she 
is taking; and if it proves to be so, there is scarcely a 
hope for her, the condition she is now in. It may, 
though, be a fever of a milder type, and if so, she will 
probably be up again soon, with proper care and nurs- 
ing. But, Aunt, I wish you could spend the most of 
your time with her for some months yet, if she recovers, 
for I am now fully convinced of the importance of pre- 
natal influence, and you can help Josie so much in these 
delicate matters.” 

“I fully appreciate the importance of what you have 
alluded to, Richard, and although I had intended to 
spend the coming fall and winter with friends in Ohio, 
yet I will talk with Josie, and if she, too, wishes me to 
remain with you, under the circumstances I think I 
shall do so.” 

“Come sit by my bed, Aunt,” said Josie, as she en- 
tered her room soon after. “There are so many things 
I wish to talk to you about.” 

“You must not talk much now, Josie; you are too 
weak; when you are stronger you may talk.” 

“ I know, Aunt, I am weak, but it will not hurt me to 
tell you what has been on my mind so many days. I now 
believe there is a God who cares for us. Your prayer 
for us and Archie has been answered ; for no power but 
that of an infinite God could have given him back to 
us. And then you talked to Him and plead with Him 
just as I should have done with my mother, if she had 
6 


74 


CADDO; OR , 


been holding my hands in her’s and looking right down 
into my eyes, while I was pleading with her for some 
coveted present. I believed then He would answer 
such a prayer as that.” 

“ And did you not know, Josie, that these were the 
only conditions on which God has promised to answer 
prayer ? ‘ Without faith it is impossible to please Him/ 
and ‘according to thy faith, so be it unto thee.’ We 
can go to our Heavenly Father on these terms as trust- 
ingly as any child can to an earthly parent, for ‘ Like 
as a father pit’eth his children, so the Lord pitieth them 
that fear him.’ Have you never read these rich and 
beautiful promises in God’s Word, Josie ?” 

“No, Aunt, I never read the Bible much. I always 
thought it was a dry book, that w^as gotten up more for 
priests and preachers than anything else. 1 never 
thought there was anything in it for me. But I do wish 
to learn the secret of your sweet temper and confiding 
trust, under all the trials you have had to pass through. 
Do you believe God would hear and answer my prayers ? 
Oh ! if I could only go to Him like you do, and talk to 
Him as a real and personal friend, I should feel so safe 
when trouble comes.” 

“ ‘ He that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast 
out.’ These are the precious words of Jesus, that I 
quoted to you, Josie, when Archie was so sick.” 

“Oh! Aunt, is that promise in God’s Word?” 

“Yes, Josie, it is full of such promises, and when 
you are stronger I will read some of them to you ; but 
you had better not not try to talk much more now.” 

“Well, Aunt, I shall never rest until I have read 
them for myself, for such promises must include me. 
And now I shall ask you to pray for me personally, for 
I know God will grant whatever you ask of Him.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


75 


“If we ask Him according to His will He heareth 
us, Josie; but you must also ask Him for yourself in 
this matter ; for we must not only believe that He is, 
but that He is the rewarder of all those who diligently 
seek Him” 

Thus was Josie led lovingly into a Christian life, by 
the sweet influence of her Aunt, who had so long 
lived in the light of a Savior’s love, that the highest 
joy of her life was found in leading others to Him. 

The late summer, fall and winter months passed 
away, and with the opening buds of spring, the fairest 
flower of all was found nestling close to Josie’s breast. 

“ Who does she look like, Mrs. Blackfoot ?” said Mrs. 
Downing, who called three weeks later to see how the 
little stranger was getting along. “ She don’t look a 
bit like her papa, nor mamma either. Why, she is white 
as a lily, and her eyes blue as the §ky.” 

-“She looks like my mother in her features,” said 
Richard, “ but she has her Aunt Cary’s eyes.” 

“Yes,” said Josie, as she looked significantly to- 
ward her husband, “ She is Aunt Cary’s baby in more 
than one sense ; for I heard what you said to Aunt 
about pre-natal influence, and I feel sure, Richard, that 
the lesson then taught by you, and since by Aunt, has 
not been lost; for baby is just as good as she can be, 
and, oh! isn’t she pretty?” 

“ Let Auntie name her, papa, she is Auntie’s baby.” 

“ Do you really wish me to name her, Josie?” said 
Mrs. Cary, “for if you do, I shall call her Eleanor, for 
Richard’s mother, and you can call her Nora for short. ” 

<£ Thank you, Auntie,” said [Richard, “ if that suits 
Josie it pleases me.” 


CADDO; OR , 


76 


“ Yes, Richard, we could not find a prettier name, 
and we will call her Nora. Oh! look, Auntie, she too 
is pleased with her name; see how she is smiling. ” 
And although the child was only three weeks old, a 
sweet smile was playing over its little mouth and dim- 
pled cheeks, while its blue eyes sparkled like diamonds. 

When Nora was three months old, Mrs. Cary bade her 
nephew’s family a kind good-bye, and went to spend a 
year with her relatives in Ohio. But her health soon 
failed, and her sweet life closed on Thanksgiving day ; 
but her angelic spirit entered into perfect life in “the 
great beyond,” where the Savior she had trusted and 
loved so well, had prepared her mansion. 

As Dr. Blackfoot grew older, and the incidents con- 
nected with the death of his father and step-mother 
were burned into his life and conscience, he became 
more avaricious than ever. While he loved his chil- 
dren, he neglected those kindly attentions to his wife 
that every true woman justly craves from her husband. 

How true the adage: “Love that comes not before 
marriage, comes never afterward.” Under this cold 
treatment, Mrs. Blackfoot suffered her hold on Christ 
to be broken ; and as she, too, loved the “ almighty 
dollar,” she soon fell in line with her husband on this 
point, and made her chief object in life the accumula- 
tion of wealth. When Nora was five years old, Kate, 
their youngest, was born. 

While Dr. Blackfoot was well read, yet he never be- 
came a very successful physician ; and, as previously 
stated, a combination of circumstances caused him, 
some years after, to leave Albany. We will now follow 
this family to their western home in Caddo. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


77 


CHAPTER XII. 

PENURIOUSNESS, AND A DOCTOR’S FREE RIDE. 

“Sorrow and silence are strong, 

But patient endurance is God*like.” 

G EORGE Hartley had been given the position of 
janitor at the high school in Caddo, by the trustees, 
and for his services as such was to receive fifteen 
dollars at the close of the term. But now that he had 
been so seriously hurt and disabled by the Doctor’s 
vicious horse, his classmates performed this work for 
him by turns, Nora taking part of this service with the 
rest, although she had never been accustomed to such 
work, and she was delegated by the class to wait on the 
trustees and request them to pay the full amount of the 
janitor fees to George, which they cheerfully did when 
they learned how matters had been arranged. 

It was five weeks after George had been hurt before 
he was able to walk to Main street; and the first trip he 
made over there, he met Dr. Blackfoot at the post-office,, 
who addressed him thus : 

“Well, George, you are able to be out again, I see. 
Getting along nicely, arn’t you ?” 

“Yes, sir, I thank you, and I suppose you think it 
time for me to settle my bill with you for treatment. I 
have just drawn my pay for janitor work, and can per- 
haps settle as well to-day as any time.” 

“ Certainly, certainly, my lad; the best time to pay a 
debt is when you have the money. But under the cir- 


78 


CADDO; OR, 


cumstances I shall not charge you full rates, which 
would be about twenty-five dollars for such services. 
So, as you are paying it so promptly, I shall only charge 
you fifteen dollars.” 

George’s heart sank within him, as he gave his last 
dollar to Dr. Blackfoot. For four months past he had 
been planning a pleasant surprise for his parents, when 
he should receive his pay for janitor services. He also 
thought he should have enough left besides to purchase 
some much needed books that he must have at the 
beginning of the next term to keep along with his class. 
As he slowly walked back homeward, in looking over 
their mail, he noticed the blue cross mark on his 
mother’s magazine, indicating that the time for which it 
had been paid had expired. Intending that she should 
have received the magazine as a present from himself 
the ensuing year, he could not repress the tears when 
he thought of his destitute condition, and utter inability 
to even aid in procuring the books he so much needed. 
This may seem a small sum for even a boy to shed 
tears over, but to George Hartley it represented months 
of hard and dusty work ; and it would have purchased 
the articles now so much needed and so highly prized 
by him. 

It may be urged that this cannot be a true statement 
of facts ; that no man could have taken the boy’s hard 
earned money under such circumstances. Perhaps no 
true man could, but when the accumulation of wealth 
becomes the ruling passion of the soul, there is no 
depths of meanness too contemptible, no sordid act too 
devilish, for the votary of avarice to be guilty of, in 
order that he may gratify his accursed ambition. Dr. 
Blackfoot not only took the last dollar of the boy’s hard 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


79 


earned money, but afterward regretted that he had not 
made the bill larger, so that he could have had at least 
a small bill to hold against Mr. Hartley. He designed 
placing every man in Caddo and vicinity, if possible, 
under obligations to himself ; and if he could not get 
doctor bills against them, would buy up notes or 
accounts whenever he could at a heavy discount. By 
this course Dr. Blackfoot secured an almost unlimited 
powc r over a large class of the citizens of Caddo ; and 
while his power was felt and feared, he was most con- 
summately hated by many whom he supposed were his 
friends. He also had a drug store on Main street, in 
which his son Archibald was head clerk. This store 
was rather peculiarly arranged. In addition to the usual 
prescription cases, he had a large room at the back end 
of the store, and a screen placed in front of the door 
entering it from the front room, over which were the 
significant words, “Sample and Pool Rooms.” As 
time passed on, the Blackfoot drug store became quite a 
favorite resort for many young men, and even boys of 
the town and vicinity, the most of whom found business 
in the “Sample and Pool Rooms” before leaving the 
store. In fact, the Blackfoot drug store was practically 
a saloon, with pool and gambling room attachments. 

But there are other characters in Caddo with whom 
the reader must become acquainted. Joshua Slathers, 
with his widowed mother, from Connecticut, had 
recently located on a small farm adjoining the town on 
the south. He was a tall, broad shouldered man, a 
bachelor of thirty, and devotedly attached to his mother. 
Although he was rough and uncouth in both language 
and costume, yet he was extremely kind hearted and 
ever ready to befriend the weak and helpless. 


80 


CADDO; OR , 


Tom Elliott, Fin Mincer and Jim Burton, were three 
of the leading “curbstone” politicians of Caddo, who 
spent much of their time in the Blackfoot “drugstore,” 
whenever their valuable services as goods-box whittlers 
around the other stores could be dispensed with. 

Henry Hartley was an honest, intelligent, and ener- 
getic farmer, who had been one of the wealthiest citizens 
of Caddo, but through the kindness and generosity of 
his heart had endorsed largely for several of his neigh- 
bors, who, through bad management and unfortunate 
speculations, had failed, thus compelling him to assume 
the payment of their paper. These reverses stripped 
him of nearly everything except his beautiful farm, and 
on this he was compelled to place a heavy mortgage in 
order to meet the last note he had endorsed. Henry 
Hartley’s farm joined Caddo on the west, and was well 
improved with rather elegant buildings; but as farm 
products were extremely low, it was only by closest 
economy that he could meet the semi-annual interest on 
his mortgage note, in addition to the daily expenses re- 
quired to keep his family in the plainest necessities of 
life. But both he and his noble wife, Alice, were true 
Christians. Never in their darkest hours had they for- 
gotten the Source from whence all their help must 
come, until the evening that George came home from 
the post office, the first time he had been able to 
take so long a walk after he had been hurt by the run- 
away horse. But the reader must here be told that Dr. 
Blackfoot had just purchased the note and mortgage 
which Mr. Hartley had given to Lawyer Benton for 
money to meet the notes of the parties for whom he had 
endorsed. 

“Why don’t you come to your supper, George?” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


81 


said his mother, when the other members of the family 
were seated around the table, for their plain evening 
meal. “ Has»your walk been too much for you ?” 

“No, mother, but I do not care for any supper this 
evening. ” 

All heads were reverently bowed as the father returned 
thanks to the Giver of all good for the blessings of 
which they were about to partake; but George’s heart 
was too full of bitterness to join in the sweet invocation. 
The more he thought over the afternoon’s transactions 
with Dr. Blackfoot, the darker the future appeared to 
him. 

“ How are we ever to get out of debt,” thought he, 
“with every one against us? How could he take all 
of my money, when he knows so well how much we 
need it?” 

These were the thoughts that were passing through 
his mind when his mother came to the lounge on which 
he was reclining, after finishing her supper ; and seeing 
the tears in his eyes, she said : 

“ What is it, George? Please tell me.” 

“ His father, stepping to the stand at the head of the 
lounge for his paper, heard the mother’s question, and 
waited for the answer. The tears came faster than ever 
for a moment, and then with an effort he forced them 
back, and told his parents all about his settlement with 
Dr. Blackfoot. 

“The miserly scoundrel,” ejaculated Mr. Hartley. 

‘ ‘ The idea of his charging you for what he has done for 
you, when the whole trouble was caused by your trying 
to save his daughter’s life. I cannot nor will not stand 
it. He shall give every dollar of it back or I’ll whip 
him within an inch of his life.” 


82 


CADDO ; OR, 


And taking his hat, he started with a full determina- 
tion of carrying his threat into execution. 

“Wait, Henry, ” said his wife, “ I wish to speak with 
you a moment before you go.” 

She followed him to the yard gate, and as he halted 
there a moment for her, she kindly laid her hand on 
his shoulder, and said : 

“Henry, we have both promised our Heavenly 
Father that we would never engage in anything, upon 
which we could not ask his blessing to rest.” 

“I know that, Alice, but God’s punishment is too 
slow for such an incarnate fiend as Doc. Blackfoot ; and 
I shall surely be justified in inflicting it myself in such a 
case as this.” 

“ Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord,” 
were the lowly spoken words of Mrs. Hartley, as she 
looked lovingly up into her husband’s eyes. The demon 
of anger was expelled, and he caught her in his arms, 
and said, as he fondly kissed her : 

‘ ‘ Alice, you have always been my guardian angel, 
and I now see what a fool I should have made of 
myself ; for I had murder in my heart, and if one or the 
other of us had not been fatally hurt, I should at least 
have laid myself liable for provoking an assault on his 
premises, which would have cost me more than he has 
so unjustly taken from George. But, Alice, this is an 
outrage that is terribly hard for me to bear.” 

“Yes, Henry, but God is our Father and he knows 
it all. He tells us to 6 fret not ourselves because of evil 
doers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity ; 
for they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and 
wither like the green herb.’ Oh, Henry, it seems to me 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


83 


I have never before so felt the deep meaning of that 
word ‘wither.’” 

As they slowly walked back to the house, Mr. Hartley 
said : 

“Alice, my dear wife, you have been the means in 
God’s hands of leading me up to a higher, purer and 
nobler life. In all my disasters, you have lovingly and 
patiently stood by me ; and when I should have given 
up in utter despair, your cheering, loving words have 
given me new hope and courage to battle on and try to 
save our home and farm.” And stooping down he im- 
printed a warm kiss on her cheek which gave her the 
sweet assurance of his true, manly affection, worth far 
more to her than a thousand homes could have been 
without it. 

“Your mother is right, George,” said Mr. Hartley, 
as they re-entered the room where the sad boy still 
remained reclining on the lounge. “ It would have 
been very foolish in me to go and provoke an assault 
with the Doctor. But we shall get along some way 
without the money, better than he will with it. God is 
our Father and he careth for us.” 

These words were spoken with such confident assur- 
ance by Mr. Hartley, that the impression made on the 
mind of his son by this short sentence was deep and 
lasting. He had been disposed to doubt the fatherly 
care of God ; but he had never doubted his father’s 
word in anything. And now that he knew that his 
father’s faith in the Word of God was unshaken, it re- 
moved for the time the last vestige of doubt in his own 
mind. 

When the hour for evening devotion arrived, Mr. 
Hartley opened the old family Bible at the 37th Psalm. 


84 


CADDO; OR , 


Never before had this Psalm seemed so full of meaning 
- to him. At the close of each verse, he felt that God 
was speaking to him in almost every word of this Psalm. 
Some of the closing words struck him with peculiar 
force : 

“ I have seen the wicked in great power and spread- 
ing himself like a green bay tree ; 

“Yet he passed away, and lo, he was not; yea, I 
sought him but he could not be found.” 

“ The transgressors shall be destroyed together; the 
end of the wicked shall be cut off ; 

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord. 
He is their strength in time of trouble.” 

“ And the Lord shall help them and deliver them. 
He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, 
because they trust in Him.” 

While Henry Hartley’s loved ones bowed with him at 
the family altar that night, they each felt that heaven 
was very near to them, and that the angel of God’s 
presence was overshadowing them. As they arose from 
their knees, they heard footstep^approaching, and soon 
the door bell rang. 

Mr. Hartley opened the door, and without waiting 
for an invitation, Joshua Slathers, followed by Esq. 
Barnes and three of Mr. Johnson’s clerks, walked in, 
and began shaking hands all around in a very jolly 
manner. 

“ It’s a leettle late, Mr. Hartley, fer us fellers to come 
a spookin’ around here, but we hain’t quite got through 
with a little job we had on hand, an’ we didn’t think we 
could sleep well afore it was ’tended to. But here, 
George, I guess you are the one we want to talk to fust. 
Did Doc. Blackfoot give you a receipt in full fer his 
bill agin’ you when you settled with him to-day ?” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


85 


“No, sir,” said George, “I was feeling so badly I 
did not think of that ; but surely he will not try to col- 
lect it again, will he?” 

“Not while Josh Slathers is in Caddo, George ; so you 
kin rest easy about that. But we thought mebby you’d 
like to have a receipt in full, so we indoosed Doc. to 
give us one fer you.” 

Then handing George the receipt, he turned to Mr. 
Hartley, and said: 

“ Uv all the cussid, miserly old scabs that ever struck 
this town, Doc. Blackfoot will come the nearest makin’ 
the devil ashamed of hisself. When I went up to the 
post office, arter I had got my chorin’ done to-night, an’ 
the postmaster ast me what I thought of a doctor as 
would charge George fifteen dollars fer savin’ his own 
daughter’s life, or words to that effect ; ‘Why,’ sez I, ‘ef 
Doc. Blackfoot tuck one cent uv money from any one 
fer what little he did fer George, I’d be one uv three 
men that would put him on a rail an’ gin him a free ride 
up here in his shirt sleeves, an’ he should never git ofen 
that rail ’till he was willin’ to make George a present uv 
ten dollars in addition to the fifteen he tuck from him 
to-day.’ So I went down to Johnson’s store an’ talked 
it over with the boys, an’ we mighty soon agreed on a 
pic-nic up at Doc’s. I had jist brought up a green 
hickory rail to make some hoe handles outen, an’ s’posen 
Doc. mout not like walkin’ up here, I thought it would 
be an indoosement to him to do his part, ef we had a rail 
fer him to ride on. So I run over home an’ got the rail 
while the boys was a lockin’ up the store.” 

But some explanation is here due the reader, in order 
that a clear understanding may be had of how Dr. 
Blackfoot was induced to contribute liberally to the 


86 


CADDO; OR , 


expenses of the “pic-nic” that night. When the post- 
master first told Slathers of the transaction between 
George and the Doctor, he was so indignant that he re- 
solved on a similar course to that which Mr. Hartley 
first intended ; and it was with difficulty that the post- 
master could restrain him from putting his threat into 
immediate execution. And not until he suggested to 
Slathers the propriety of taking up a small collection 
among the boys for George, and then calling on the 
Doctor to make up what they lacked of the fifteen 
dollars, did he yield the least in his purpose. But now 
a new thought struck him; and going down to Johnson’s 
store, and telling the boys in his inimitable manner, all 
the circumstances in connection with the case, and 
dilating largely on the Doctor’s penuriousness, he said : 

“Boys, I tell you this thing shall not stand so. Why, 
I’d be ashamed uv myself an’ every other cussid man in 
Caddo, ef we jist let that durned skunk uv a Doctor rob 
George uv his four months’ wages, when he’d a been 
put to four times that much cost fer funeral expenses in 
his own family, besides fixin’ up his cussid hoss an’ 
buggy, ef that brave boy hadn’t resked his life and 
stopped ’em. Why, rich as he is, he ort a made George 
a present uv double that amount, ’stid o’ takin’ any 
money from him,” 

Esq. Barnes was in Johnson’s store at the time, and 
he approved of the postmaster’s plan of taking up a 
small collection, and donated one dollar himself. Four 
dollars more were soon made up by Slathers and the 
three clerks. Esq. Barnes then wrote out a receipt in 
full for George against the Doctor’s account, and the 
party all walked up to Dr. Blackfoot’s gate. 

Slathers stepped briskly up on the veranda to the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


87 


front door, and rang the bell. The call was answered 
by the Doctor himself, who came to the door with his 
coat and shoes off, as he was about retiring for the 
night. 

“Good evenin’,” said Slathers, as he firmly gripped 
the Doctor’s right hand and drew him out on the 
veranda, while he reached back with his left hand and 
closed the door behind him. “Say, Doc., we’re takin’ 
up a little collection to-night fer George Hartley, and 
hev come fer you to go along with us over there.” 

“Why do you wish me to go? Is the boy any 
worse ?” 

“Yes, Doc., he is fifteen dollars wuss off ’en he wus 
this mornin’ an’ you know cussid well why. Say, Doc. , 
we’ve raised five dollars, an’ seein’ as you are under 
bigger obligations than eny uv us in this case, we’ve 
assessed you ten dollars on this little donation, which 
you kin jist fork over to us, ef you don’t feel like goin’ 
over there with us to-night to give it to that brave boy 
as saved you a durned sight more expense, besides, it 
may be, the life of your daughter.” 

“Well, gentlemen,” said the Doctor, “if this is all 
the business you have with me to-night, you can con- 
sider yourselves dismissed; for I have no money to 
throw away on such people. If they are paupers, there 
is a township fund to be drawn on for their relief.” 

“Well, Doc., we thought mebby you mouten’t feel 
like walkin’ over thar to-night, so we jist brought this 
three cornered rail along fer your special ’commoda- 
tion.” 

The gate was thrown wide open, and Josh lifted the 
Doctor astride the rail as easily as most men would have 
handled a ten year old boy. Two of Mr. Johnson’s 


88 


CADDO; 0A>, 


clerks shouldered the rail, while the other held the 
Doctor’s right leg and Slathers the left, and gave the 
command, ‘ 4 forward march,” with Esq. Barnes laughing 
as he followed them with his lantern. 

The Doctor cursed and raved lustily, saying he would 
4 ‘ have every one of them arrested for this outrage.” 

“ Halt,” said Slathers, and the party stopped, but 
the Doctor was not permitted to change his position on 
the rail, which was fully five feet in the air, and he in close 



“Air ye settin' easy, Doc.?” me off, you’ll 

rue it the longest day of your life,” answered the Doc- 
tor, fairly choking with passion. 


“ The Doctor’s not a feelin’ none too comfortable, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


89 


boys, so we’d better be movin’ on. Forward march to 
Henry Hartley’s.” 

They had not gone more than a square before Dr. 
Blackfoot saw how utterly helpless he was in the hands 
of such men, and not wishing to endure the torture of 
a half mile ride on such a vehicle, he changed his tone, 
and said : 

“ Hold on, men, I’ll do what is right ; let me down.” 

“ Halt,” said Slathers, and the party stopped again, 
but still no change in the Doctor’s position was per- 
mitted. 

“ Now, Doc.,” said Slathers, “ ef you’ll jist hand me 
the money you robbed that brave boy uv to-day, an’ ten 
dollars on top uv it, to help out our little donation fer 
George, we’ll excuse you under the circumstances from 
goin 5 up thar with us ; but we want your receipt in full 
uvall claims agin’ George er his father in the bargain.” 

“You only asked ten dollars a bit ago,” said the 
Doctor, “and now you want twenty-five. I can’t 
stand it.” 

“ Forward march,” was the quick response, and the 
party moved on with greater speed than ever, and a 
dozen or more men and boys had now gathered to see the 
fun. They had not gone a half a square further, 
however, before the Doctor said : 

“Hold on, boys, I’ll surrender.” 

“Halt; ease down, boys, and take a rest,” said 
Slathers; “ its up hill most uv the way from here.” 

The Doctor’s feet were here allowed to touch the 
ground for the first time since leaving his front gate. 

“You’ll have to go back to my office with me to make 
the change,” said the Doctor, “also to make out the 
receipt, as we have no paper here.” 


90 


CADDO; OR , 


“No, Doc.,” said Slathers, “the ’Squire has the 
receipt already filled out, an’ you kin see well enough by 
his lantern to sign yer name to it. Ef yer hand 
should be a leetle shaky jist now, we kin all explain how 
it happened, ef yer writin’ should ever be called in 
question.” 

Dr. Blackfoot was now completely subdued ; so, 
handing Slathers the three five dollar bills that George 
had paid him, and a ten dollar bill beside, he called for 
the receipt ; signed it doggedly, with a very shaky hand, 
and passed it back to Esq. Barnes with a muttered 
curse. 

“Now, Doc.,” said the ’Squire, “you have had a 
rather severe lesson. Your penurious conduct in the 
treatment of the poor and unfortunate, has become 
notorious, and this last act claps the climax, and is in- 
tolerable. You spoke a bit ago of arrests, etc. While 
the proceedings of this evening have not been strictly 
within the bounds of the law, yet I doubt very much 
whether any jury you could get, would not acquit all 
indicted persons and throw you in the cost, if you should 
bring suit in such a case as this.” 

The Doctor muttered something about the protection 
of the law in a man’s person and property, when 
S^thers said : 

“ We’ll take yer back home, Doc., ef you are afeard 
to go alone, an’ we’ll pertect yer tender feet from 
techin’ the ground all the way.” 

The Doctor started back, limping over the gravelly 
street in his stocking feet, feeling relieved at every step 
that he placed between himself and his recent callers. 

“Tell Josie,” said Slathers, “ that we were sorry to 
keep you out so late, but this bein’ yer fust act uv 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


91 


charity, it tuck you longer to make up yer mind ’bout 
how much to give than it will next time.” 

But to return to Henry Hartley’s, where we left 
Slathers, Esq. Barnes, and Johnson’s clerks. 

“So, George, here’s yer three five dollar bills the 
Doctor tuck from you, an’ we make you a present uv 
fifteen more fer your bravery,” said Slathers, as he 
handed the thirty dollars toward the pale boy. 

“ I cannot accept that much of it, Mr. Slathers,” said 
George ; “ I am willing to pay the Doctor something for 
his services, but I did think, under the circumstances, 
that five dollars would have been enough; so, as you 
have brought the money back, I will accept ten dollars 
of it, if my parents do not object.” 

“I think, George,” said his father, “you had better 
take fifteen dollars, under the circumstances, and if our 
kind friends know of any suffering they can relieve, 
with the other fifteen, let them use it in that way, as 
they neither wish to keep it themselves, nor return any 
part of it to the Doctor.” 

“ But, Mr. Hartley,” said Esq. Barnes, “such brave 
and noble acts should be rewarded, and we feel that 
your son is justly entitled to all we have brought him.” 

“ Yes, an’ a durn sight more,” said Slathers, “ef we 
could a twisted it outen Doc. Blackfoot. ’Scuse me, 
Mrs. Hartley, I didn’t mean to use no rough language 
afore wimin’ an’ childrin, but I was so cussid mad when 
I found how that durned skinflint had robbed George 

; there, dog it all, I cussed agin ; but, Madam, 

I didn’t mean to.” 

“ I sincerely thank you, Mr. Slathers, for your kind- 
ness,” said Mrs. Hartley, “and hope we may yet be 
able to show our appreciation of the same to all of you 


92 


CADDO; OR , 


gentlemen, in a more substantial manner than words 
can express to-night. But my husband is right. George 
ought not to take the other fifteen dollars, when there 
.are many who need it so much worse.” 

“Well, ma’am,” said Slathers, laying the money on 
the family Bible, “ef George won’t take it, we’ll jist 
make you a present uv it, fer we shan’t take it back with 
ns ; an’ ef you ever give a blessed cent uv it back to Doc. 
Blackfoot, it’ll make me cuss more’n ever; an’ I’mtryin’ 
durn hard to quit usin’ rough talk, an’ think ef I didn’t 
have so many aggravatin’ things to worry me, I could 
git along fust rate.” 


CUPID TJV THE GAS BELT. 


93 


CHAPTER XIII. 

SHYLOCK THWARTED. 

% 

T HE five-thousand dollar mortgage note that Henry 
Hartley had given to Mr. Benton, was made pay- 
able six years after date ; but the terms of the note were 
such, that if he failed to meet the semi-annual install- 
ments of interest promptly, the whole amount became 
due and collectable on demand. Lawyer Benton had, 
only a few days before, disposed of the note and trans- 
ferred the mortgage to Dr. Blackfoot, fearing that 
Hartley would never be able to redeem his farm, and 
not wishing to foreclose the mortgage himself, thought 
to rid himself of all responsibility in this way. 

Mr. Hartley had not learned of this transfer of his 
paper ; and on account gf the low price of farm prod- 
ucts, it had been impossible for him to raise the 
entire amount necessary to meet the first installment of 
interest, which fell due the following Friday. He had 
therefore determined to call on Mr. Benton and pay all 
that he could, and ask for a few days’ extension of the 
time for the remainder, which was only fifteen dollars. 
But now that just this amount had been so unexpectedly 
left in his hands, both his wife and George insisted on 
his taking it to meet the payment then falling due. So 
he went early next morning to Benton’s office with the 
money. On entering the front room of the office, he 
found that Mr. Benton was busily engaged with .some 


94 


CADDO; OR , 


one in his consultation room, which was separated from 
the main office by a thin wood partition. Seating him- 
self by the table, he took up the morning paper and 
began looking over the news, while waiting for Mr. 
Benton to be at leisure. He had been thus engaged 
but a few moments, however, when he heard the angry 
voice of Dr. Blackfoot, for he it was who had called so 
early for consultation with his attorney, as to what re- 
dress, if any, there was to be had for the unceremonious 
treatment he had received the evening before. 

“Then you think, Benton, there would be no use in 
beginning a suit?” 

“I would not advise it, Doctor, for they would 
doubtless demand a jury trial; and while Henry Hartley 
has been very unfortunate by endorsing so largely for 
his speculative friends, still he has the confidence and 
warmest sympathy of all the best citizens of Caddo. 
And as the circumstances of the boy’s being hurt would 
be brought out, you could hardly get a jury that would 
convict one of them, and you would be thrown in the 
cost.” 

“Well, sir, you can bet your bottom dollar on one 
thing, Mr. Benton, if Henry Hartley allows his boy to 
keep a dollar of that money, I’ll foreclose that mortgage 
the first time he lets the interest go one hour past due.” 

“Well, Doc., you will have to do as you like about 
that. But I’ll tell you, the sympathies of all the best 
citizens are with Mr. Hartley, and I would much rather 
see you foreclose that mortgage, if it should become nec- 
essary, than to have that unpleasant job on my hands ; 
and as it will be barely possible for him to meet even 
his first payment promptly, I was the more willing to 
submit to the heavy discount at which you bought the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


95 


note. In fact, he told me just before I sold you the 
paper, that unless he could collect some outstanding ac- 
counts, it would be impossible for him to meet the full 
amount of the interest promptly; and that, I believe, 
falls due to-morrow ?” 

“Yes, sir, and by the Eternal, Benton, that howling 
Methodist, temperance fanatic, shall receive no favors 
from me. If the full payment is not promptly met to- 
morrow, I shall expect you to take the jiecessary steps 
at once for foreclosing the mortgage. That is not a bad 
piece of property, and I have a man that I wish to put 
there soon.” 

“ I would rather you would let Lawyer Quigley have 
that job, Doc.; he will take any kind of a case, and I 
prefer, for special reasons, to have nothing to do with 
any case that will distress Henry Hartley.” 

“The devil you do! Haven’t I retained you as my 
attorney ?” 

“Not in this case, Doc., and I tell you frankly, I 
want nothing to do with it.” 

“ Look here, Benton, have you been setting up a job 
on me ? Is there some flaw in the title to that property ? 
Or have you and Hartley been working some hocus- 
pocus game for defeating the foreclosure of the mort- 
gage, in case he fails to meet his payments promptly ?” 

“ No, sir, the title to that property is perfect, Doc., 
and no court in the State can prevent a foreclosure if it 
is demanded, when the terms of such a note fail to be 
complied with. But, as I said before, for special reasons 
I prefer not to take this case against Mr. Hartley.” 

“ All right, Benton, but if I take this case to Quigley, 
and he handles it to my satisfaction, I shall probably 
give him the bulk of my business in the future ; for I 


96 


CADDO; OR , 


need an attorney who is not too conscientious to do his 
duty. I suppose you little thought when I bought the 
mortgage note, that I should so soon come into posses- 
sion of the Hartley propety; but I tell you frankly that 
was my object in buying the paper, for I knew d — d 
well that Hartley could never keep the interest up on 
such a debt as that, and I would rather have that farm 
than fifty per cent, advance on the face of the note.” 

“I feared at -the time Isold you the note, Doc., that 
he could not redeem his farm ; but I knew you did not 
need the money, and I hoped that you would give such 
a man as Hartley a fighting chance at least to save his 
home.” 

“ Oh, yes, Benton, you are a very unselfish man, a 
model dispenser of other people’s charities ; but \vhen 
you unload such paper as that on me, and then ask me 
to carry it to eternity to accommodate such a temper- 
anee fanatic as Hartley, who has done so much to injure 
my business here, you may as well understand, first as 
last, that you are barking up the wrong tree ; for I’d 
see him in h — 1 before I would lift a finger to help him 
save his home and farm.” 

“Now, Doc., I must contend that Henry Hartley has 
done or said no more against your business than every 
man who has a family of boys growing up here in 
Caddo should. You know very well that his brother- 
in-law, Will Noble, had as fine a set of boys as could 
be found anywhere, when you started your drug store 
here; but the attractions that were kept in that back 
room were too much for them, and they are now hard 
drinkers, and all going to the devil as fast as possible. 
How can you blame him, as superintendent of the 
Methodist Sunday School, for warning all boys and 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


97 


young men of the danger in frequenting such places as 
you very well know you and your son have kept ?” 

“Phew!” whistled Dr. Blackfoot; “when did you 
join the temperance cranks ? I suppose they will have 
you in the church next. Candidate for Sunday School 
superintendent, arn’t you ? Now, look here, Benton ; 
if Bill Noble’s boys have no more sense than to make 
d — d hogs of themselves, it’s none of my business, nor 
yours either, who gets the money for the whisky they 
drink ; and if we can scrape in their loose change, we 
have as good a right as any one. We have paid our 
money for our license, and the law protects us in our 
business.” 

“ Dr. Blackfoot,” said Benton, with some warmth, 
“the fact of an evil being legalized does not make it 
right. For instance, in many cities, houses of public 
prostitution have been legalized. But suppose that one 
of your own beautiful daughters should, by any com- 
bination of circumstances be lured into that kind of a 
life, would you not feel justified in resorting to any 
legitimate means to reclaim her? Nay, would you not 
feel it your duty to avenge, with your own life’s blood, 
if need be, the betrayer of your daughter’s virtue, even 
though the party who has ruined her may run his house 
and business under a license? I tell you, Doc., the 
time is near at hand when this thing of licensing the 
most damnable evils that ever cursed the earth will not 
be tolerated in our country. The sentiment in favor of 
protecting our boys and girls from these two great evils 
that have ruined a thousand fold more homes than all 
other causes combined, is rapidly gaining in our coun- 
try ; and you may as well make up your mind to get 
out of the way, or be run over by the engine.” 


98 


CADDO; OR, 


“Oh, fiddlesticks! Benton; my guess is, the engine 
will be thrown from the track, and the engineer and 
passengers on your temperance train will get their d — d 
necks broken, if they undertake any such job as you 
indicate. I tell you, sir, the people of this country 
will never give up their liberty to eat and drink what 
they d — d please ; and you can’t ever control or prevent 
it by law.” 

“ Doesn’t the law control the sale of poisons, and 
require you to label them as such when you sell them, 
Doc.?” 

“ Certainly, sir, but that is to prevent accidents or 
injuries from occurring to our customers, who might 
innocently mistake them for harmless medicines.” 

“Well, now, Doc., tell me what greater injury could 
happen to your boy or mine than to have him besotted f 
literally ruined, yes, poisoned to death by these drinks, 
which you very well know are most damnably adulterated 
with the most deadly poisons ? And don’t you suppose 
Will Noble’s boys are as dear to him as ours are to us ? 
No wonder Henry Hartley warns all boys and young 
men to keep away from your place of business, when 
he sees the ruin that has been brought on his sister’s 
children by the very enticements you have held out for 
them.” 

“Oh, Benton, you are crazy. If Bill Noble’s boys, 
or anybody else, have a mind to make d — d hogs of 
themselves, and drink themselves to death, the sooner 
they do so the better ; I am sure at least it would be no 
concern of mine.” 

“Well, Doc., you are a harder brick than I took 
you to be; but as I have not yet looked over my morn- 
ing mail, and have some writing to do before court 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEIT. 


99 


convenes this morning, I shall have to be excused, un- 
less there is something further of importance you wish 
to consult with me about.” 

Henry Hartley had been an unwilling listener to all 
this conversation, and his feelings can be better im- 
agined than described, when the two men entered the 
office from the consultation room. Mr. Benton greeted 
him with a warm shake of the hand, but Dr. Blackfoot 
merely inclined his head with a cold “ Good morning, 
sir.” The former, feeling sure from the expression on 
Hartley’s face that he had learned the fact of his hav- 
ing transferred the note and mortgage to Dr. Blackfoot, 
said : 

“ Mr. Hartley, I was in need of some money, so I 
sold your note to the Doctor, and if you should need a 
little assistance to carry it, I may be able to help you 
temporarily.” 

“Thank you, Mr. Benton,” said Hartley, while the 
Doctor’s brow darkened at the prospect of any aid be- 
ing offered that might prevent an immediate foreclosure 
of the mortgage. “I have sufficient means to meet 
this payment, but God only knows how I shall be able 
to meet those in the future. It might be better for me 
to give up the struggle now ; but for the sake of my 
wife and children, I shall fight on awhile longer in my 
efforts to save our farm and home. So, Doctor, if you 
will receipt me for this payment, I can go back to my 
family with the assurance that we have a home for six 
months longer, at least.” 

“ Certainly,” said the Doctor, as he doggedly counted 
the money and found the amount to be correct, but in- 
wardly cursing the luck that had enabled Hartley to 


100 


CADDO; OR , 


meet his semi-annual payment of interest one day before 
it was due. 

Clearer than ever did Henry Hartley see the wisdom 
of his wife in preventing him on the previous evening 
from taking vengeance on Dr. Blackfoot, personally ; as 
this could have brought him no money, but would have 
left him utterly helpless in the hands of a heartless, 
grasping tyrant, even if no other serious results had 
followed. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


101 


CHAPTER XIV. 


A DUTCHMAN’S COURTSHIP, AND HIS SECOND-HAND WIFE. 


“Some men seem born to luck, 
Others to adversity.” 



E have already alluded to Henry Hartley’s 


V V brother-in-law, whose four sons, Charles, Edgar, 
John and Walter, had become regular patrons of the 
Blackfoot “drug” store and billiard rooms. There are 
other characters in Caddo, with whom the reader must 
now become acquainted. 

Jacob Staats, a short but very fleshy German, and 
Patrick Murphy, a lank, red faced Irishman — the latter 
being one of Blackfoot’s most faithful customers. 
Murphy had no family except his wife, Cathleen ; while 
Staats had beside his wife, a family of seventeen chil- 
dren, of all ages from one year old up to eighteen. 
Five years before the incidents related in this chapter, 
his wife died, leaving him with six children to care for, 
the youngest of which was a babe two weeks old. 
About this time Mrs. Lena Straub was left a widow with 
four children, the oldest of which was four, and the 
next two years old, while the two youngest were twins, 
six months old. Time weighed heavily on Mr. Staats’ 
hands, as both widower and nurse, since he had given 
but little care to either his children or household mat- 
ters during his first wife’s time ; so he determined to 
break the monotony of his extra family cares by calling 


102 


CADDO; OR , 


on Mrs. Straub, ostensibly for the purpose of getting 
some advice about the management of his children’s 
clothing, but really for another purpose. He accord- 
ingly told his children that he was going over to see 
if Mrs. Straub could fix up their pants and dresses; 
telling his oldest daughter, who was then thirteen, to 
keep the children in the house until he returned. 
Although Mrs. Straub’s parents were German, they had 
never used their native language much in their family, 
and none of their children had ever learned to use it; 
consequently, Mr. Staats, who could talk German much 
more readily than English, was at quite a disadvantage 
in making himself clearly understood in the latter lan- 
guage. 

‘ ‘ I kooms ofer to shwap some of mine droubles mit 
you dees evening, Meesis Shtraub,” said Mr. Staats, as 
he entered his widowed neighbor’s dwelling. “ I don’dt 
can undershtand how you veemens vas geeps dhose 
childer’s glose so goodt und glean alreadty, ven mine 
pees all so dirdty as von bigs, und more raggedt as der 
tuyfel. Ofer id vas shopping some voodt oder vorking 
der garten in, dodt voodt make der glose glean, und 
mendt up der holes in ’em, I could do dodt alreadty. 
Und ven mine leedle paby efry nighdt gries mit der 
golic, oder some dings like dodt, I not can dell vos in 
der tuyfel to do mit him vonce.” 

“ Perhaps you let his milk sour,” said Mrs. Straub. 

“Yah, ve all sour milk trinks, und somedimes glab- 
ber; budt dodt ish healdy, I taughdt. Und der vedder 
ish so varm, der milk sours righdt avay off quick 
alreadty.” 

“Oh, Mr. Staats, you must not let that little babe have 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


103 


sour milk, unless you intend to kill it,” said Mrs. 
Straub. 

‘‘Gill my leedle paby? Nine; I’d sooner lose mine 
pest zovv und bigs, as dod’t leedle paby. Zo if milk 
gills him, I guess bedder I feed idt mit breadt und 
betatoes ; dondt idt, Mrs. Shtraub ?” 

“ Oh, Mr. Staats, you need a woman to take care of 
that babe. I fear you will lose it, the way you are 
managing things.” 

“ Dodt ish dhru, Mrs. Shtraub, und I taughdt may- 
pee I gill dwo sh tones mit von pird, ofer I ask you to 
pe dodt vomans.” 

“ I ? How can I leave my own children to go and 
take care of yours, Mr. Staats? You surely cannot 
expect that.” 

At the close of this sentence, all six of Mr. Staats’ 
children were heard at the door; the babe and the next 
two older crying lustily. 

“Vahroon grien tsee so loudt ouse?” said Mr. Staats, as 
he stepped to the door and looked out at his ragged 
flock. ‘ ‘ Go righdt avay home mit you alreadty, und 
shtay mit der house in.” 

“ The children want to see the new clothes that Mrs. 
Straub is makin’ for ’em, an’ I couldn’t keep ’em home,’’ 
said Louisa, who was holding the crying babe in her 
arms. 

While Mrs. Straub would have had no objections to 
becoming Mrs. Staats the second, under ordinary cir- 
cumstances, as he was fairly well off, while she had been 
left poor and was harassed with debts, yet the sight that 
met her at the door was not well calculated to advance 
his suit. Reaching down, she took the babe in her 
arms, and said: 


104 


CADDO; OR, 


£ ‘ Mr. Staats, I will keep the babe for you until you 
can get a nurse that will understand how to care for it 
properly.” 

“ Yah, yah, Meesis Shtraub, dodt vill pe righdt goodt 
vor der paby, budt I nodt can shtay avay vrom him 
alreadty, so I bees vore dimes more in your house ash 
in mine, ofer you kooms nicht mit me to leaf.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, well, Mr. Staats, you can come over as often 
as you wish, if I keep the babe ; but as it requires care 
that Louisa cannot give it, I shall keep it until you can 
get a nurse for it.” 

The result was, that in a few weeks time the babe 
had found a place in the warm mother heart of Mrs. 
Straub, and she did not care to give it up; so three 
months from the evening Mr, Staats first called upon 
her, she took up her permanent abode with him as Mrs. 
Staats. She married her first husband at the early age 
of seventeen, and was, at the time of her marriage to 
Mr. Staats, only twenty-two, and the mother of four 
children ; the last two, as previously stated, being twins. 
Since there are but few instances on record of such 
rapid multiplying in any one family, this book would be 
incomplete, should we fail to inform the reader that 
before Mrs. Staats was twenty-seven years old she was 
the mother of thirteen children — eleven of which were 
living — besides being the step-mother of the six children 
of Mr. Staats by his first wife. This can be better un- 
derstood, though, by giving a part of the conversation 
between Mr. Staats and the census taker, which occurred 
in Mr. Johhson’s store: 

“What is your name, Mr. Staats?” said the census 
taker. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


105 


“Vat ish mine name? Didn’t you shpoke idt 
alreadty ?” 

“Yes, sir, but I must have your first name. Is it 
John, Jacob, or Frederick Staats? or what?” 

“ Yah, you guessed idt; dodt ish him alreadty.” 

“ Well, which of the names mentioned is yours — John, 
Jacob or Frederick? I mentioned three.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, yah, I vorshtay now alreadty ; my name ish 
Shacob, budt you can put him down Shake, vor dodt 
ish vot all der beoples galls me.” 

“Well, now, Mr. Staats, please give me your age, 
and the name of the country and place where you were 
born.” 

“ I peen four und thritcic, last Gristmas.” 

“Thirty-four last Christmas, I suppose you mean ?” 

“Yah, dodt ish vat I saidt.” 

“ Now, where were you born?” 

“I vos porn mit mine vater und moter, py dhere 
home, I dink alreadty.” 

“Yes, but where did your father and mother live? 
Was it in Germany, Italy, France, or this country?” 

“Yah, I dink idt vas.” 

“Was which? in Germany?” 

“ Yah, und glose py Vertempurg.” 

“ All right; now give me your wife’s name.” 

“ Vich von you meandt, Meester Luring?” 

“You surely have but one, Mr. Staats.” 

‘ 1 Yah, Ish haben dwo, budt der forest von ish tead 
more ash vife year ago alreadty, und der von I got now 
ish mine second-handedt frow.” 

“ Well, your present wife’s name is the one I want.” 

“ Her name ish Lena Staats, now alreadty.” 

“ And how old is she?” 


8 


106 


CADDO; OR , 


“Seeven und swancy, latst March.” 

“Twenty-seven ; and where was she born ?” 

“ Py her fater und moter in Bittsburg.” 

“Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?” 

“Yah, dodt ish him.” 

“Now, Mr. Staats, I want the number, names and 
ages of your children.” 

“ Maype you likes to know how many hairs I got 
mine headt on alreadty. Vat vor you peen so inguisi- 
tive ? Fve godt blendy vor all mine shildrens, if dhere 
vas not half so many, dondt it, Meester Shonson ?” 

“ Oh, yes, Mr. Staats, you are pretty well fixed for 
taking care of your family, and your wife is one of the 
best of managers,” said Mr. Johnson. “ But Mr. Lur- 
ing is the census taker, and he is only asking you such 
questions as the law requires should be answered.” 

“Ish dodt so, Mr. Luring?” 

“ Yes, sir, and I have just come from your house, at 
the request of a young lady who met me at the door and 
told me I should find you here ; so, if you will answer 
my questions I shall soon be through with you. First, 
the number of your children, please ?” 

“ Sevendeen,” promptly answered Mr. Staats. 

“Seventeen?” said Luring, “how can that be when 
your wife is only twenty-seven years old?” 

“ Oh, I toldt you predy guick how dodt vas. Lena 
ish my second-handedt vife, und she hat vour shildrens 
mit her vorust hushpandt, und I hat six mit mine vorust 
vife.” 

“ Very well, but that only makes ten; and as your 
first wife has only been dead five years, how can you 
account for seven more children by your last wife ?” 

“Veil I toldt you how dodt vas vonce ; mine second 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


107 


handedt vife she ish von shmardt vomans alreadty. 
You see ve hat den childrens petween us pefore I mar- 
riedt Lena Shtraub, und den der vorust ve got pehindt 
de dime vot I marriedt Lena, vas a dwin ; de second 
vas a driplet, und the third vas a — a — vat you gall him ? 
— a — a — guadrupedt. ” 

“You mean quadruplets, Mr. Staats,” said Mr. 
Luring. 

“ Yah, I guess dodt ish vat he vas.” 

“ But that would make nineteen children, instead of 
seventeen, Mr. Staats.” 

“ Dodt ish dhrue, if dey all hadt leafed ; budt ve lost 
dwo vat died vrom dodt latst litter ; so you see dodt 
leafes us only sevendeen pedween us.” 

“ Well, judging the future by the past, Mr. Staats, 
you bid fair to ” 

The sentence was broken off hereby the cry of “Fire,” 
from several voices on the street, and every one ran to 
see where it was ; some to aid in extinguishing the fire, 
but the greater number to gratify their curiosity, and as 
some expressed themselves, “To see the fun.” 

It was found to be Dr. Blackfoot’s barn; and before 
any sensible efforts were made to put out the fire, the 
whole building, except one end, in which there were no 
doors or openings, was one sheet of flame ; and as it was 
impossible to get the Doctor’s fine span of bays out, they 
were burned to a crisp, together with the whole build- 
ing and its contents, including his fine carriage and 
trotting buggy he had run in not an hour before, and 
his corn, hay, etc. All that could now be done was to 
prevent the spread of the fire to other adjacent build- 
ings; and as the chief of the fire company had been 
disabled by a fall the day before, this would not have 


108 


CADDO; OR , 


been done, had not Henry Hartley arrived just at this 
time and taken command of the citizen’s fire company. 
He was a cool, clear-headed man, in whom all had im- 
plicit confidence, and under his leadership every man 
worked with a will. The Doctor’s large residence stood 
a short distance to the north-west of the burning barn, 
and as the wind was blowing from that quarter, it ren- 
dered the danger to buildings in that direction less 
imminent. But as the wind was carrying showers of 
sparks to the south-east, Hartley stationed men on and 
around all the buildings for a square or two away in that 
direction, with vessels of water ready to extinguish any 
incipient flame, while the fire engine was flooding the 
roofs and sides of the buildings nearest the fire. 

The men had scarcely succeeded in getting the fire 
under control when the eccentric rod of the fire engine 
broke, which of course disabled it from further use, and 
nothing but the determined efforts by the men with 
buckets, prevented the most destructive fire that Caddo 
had ever known. In their excitement, every ladder 
belonging to the fire company had been left so near the 
burning building, that when the wind blew the south 
wall out, it fell on and burned them; so there was not one 
left with which to reach the eaves of Dr. Blackfoot’s 
residence, on the roof of which a small blaze was now 
seen starting. The firemen, and even Mr. Hartley, for 
a time seemed confused. With no way of either throw- 
ing water so high, or climbing to the roof of the build- 
ing, how could the house be saved? 

The Doctor was wild with excitement and screamed 
out: “Five hundred dollars to the man who will climb 
to that fire and put it out.” 

“ Guess you’re ’bout as good at climbin’ bare walls as 


CUPID m THE GAS BELT. 


109 


anybody, Doc., so s’posen you try it yourself and save 
your money,” said Josh Slathers, who, with George 
Hartley, had been a mile from town at work when they 
saw the smoke, and in coming up were the first to dis- 
cover the fire on the roof. Just then a cry for help was 
heard from Nora, the Doctor’s daughter, in the north 
yard, and a dozen or more men ran around there to see 
what was the matter. George Hartley, immediately on 
reaching the fire, dodged around into the back yard, 
and cutting a clothes line that was stretched there, tied 
one end to his left wrist, and, after throwing off his 
shoes, began, cat-like, to climb the lightning rod which 
came down on the north side of the building. While 
this was very hard work, he had but little difficulty 
until he reached the edge of the roof, where the rod 
bent over the eaves, and around under the cornice. 
One of the staples or eyes through which the rod 
passed was about four feet from the cornice in the side 
wall, and another about a foot from the eaves on the 
roof. He could rest his right foot on the hook, or staple 
in the wall below, while he reached up over the roof to 
the staple there; but he could not draw his body up 
over the edge of the roof without some support from 
below. So he pulled the rope from his left wrist around 
the staple under the rod on the roof, until he had 
enough of it pulled through to make a loop or noose, 
which he let down from the staple over the edge of the 
roof, far enough for him to get his left foot into it, and 
then tied a slip knot around the staple. With this 
support he swung himself over the eaves upon the roof. 
But here he met a worse difficulty than any before, for 
his left hand was tied by this noose so closely to the 
staple, that he could only move it a few inches in any 


110 


CADDO; OR , 


direction. The roof was so steep that he could not 
move his right hand far enough down the rod to disen- 
gage the rope from the staple, and still retain his posi- 
tion on the roof for a moment. He made two or three 
desperate efforts to break the rope, but this he could 
not do. 

The sight of young Hartley in this fearful position on 
the roof was what had caused this cry of alarm from 
Nora, and the rushing of the men to the north yard in 
time to witness his most desperate struggles. Not a 
man on the ground could climb to him, and a feeling of 
terror shot through his veins, as he heard the crackling 
of the shingles near him on the opposite side of the roof, 
of the burning building. To remain there and be 
burned alive was a thought too horrible to contemplate. 
The men below were frantically calling for him to come 
down, not knowing that his efforts to break the rope 
had drawn the knot so tight that, with his slender hold 
on the steep roof, it was impossible for him to move a 
foot in either direction. In another desperate effort to 
break the rope, he saw that he had loosened the staple 
in the roof, and it occurred to him that he possibly 
could pull it out of the roof and slip it up the rod to the 
next staple, and there hold himself in position with his 
left hand while he untied the knot with his right. So 
pressing his knee under the rod below the staple, and 
at the same time lifting on the rod above it with his 
hand he pulled it out of the roof, after which he had 
little trouble in extricating himself. 

All this was done in less time than it takes to tell it, 
and young Hartley was quickly running along the comb 
of the roof with the rope in his hand, one end of which 
he let lown at the west end of the building and called to 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


Ill 


Slathers to tie the end of it to the pail of water that Jake 
Staats had been carrying around for at least a quarter 
of an hour. This he quickly drew up, and running 
back along the comb of the building, threw it on the 
fire, which by this time had spread over six or eight 
feet of surface. A dozen other pails of water were by 
this time taken to the end of the building at which 
Hartley had let down the rope for the first. Quick as 
a cat he ran back and let down the bucket to be filled 
again. As is often the case at a fire, nearly every man 
seemed to have lost his wits ; so when the bucket was 
low enough for another to be emptied into it, Jake 
Staats began to untie the rope, thinking that as the 
descending vessel was empty, it must be untied and a 
full vessel tied on in its place. Slathers was just in the 
act of emptying his pail into the one Hartley had let 
down, as Staats drew it aside to untie it. Quick as a 
thought he threw the whole pail of water into Staats’ 
face, and as the surprised German turned from him 
with a regular war-whoop, he threw another pailful over 
his back, saying as he threw the last over him : 

“ Git out o’ the way you cussid ole beer keg; what 
are you pullin’ George’s pail away for ?” 

“ Oo — oo — oop! Mine Godt in himmel, vat vor you 
so mooch coldt vater trow me on alreadty ?” said Staats 
as he waddled off with water dripping from every thread 
on him. This was all done so quickly that scarcely a 
moment’s time was lost in filling the bucket again, 
and the second pail of water was thrown on the fire 
with more effect than the first; but the fire had burned 
so far under the roof that it took more than a dozen 
pails of water to extinguish it. 

While no one expected, or would have received any 


112 


CADDO; OR, 


compensation from the Doctor for services rendered in 
extinguishing the fire, yet Slathers, the Doctor’s great 
tormentor, could not resist the temptation to call his 
attention to the fact that George Hartley had climbed 
to the roof of the building and saved his house, and that 
the crowd would like to see the cash paid over that he 
had offered to any one who would perform such a feat. 
Before he could reply, however, George indignantly 
protested against receiving anything, saying : 

“Dr. Blackfoot is surely welcome to all that I, or 
any of us have done, and we should brand ourselves as 
unworthy of the name of neighbors, if, at such a time as 
this we failed to do all in our power to protect his 
property.” 

“Yes, that’s so,” said Slathers, “but, Doc., you 
mustn’t bring a bill agin’ him fer cuttin’ yer clothes line, 
nor snatchin’ a steeple ofen’ yer lightnin’-rod.” 

“When I need your advice about how to run my 
business, I’ll call on you, Josh,” was the Doctor’s quick 
retort. 

Dr. Blackfoot was an inveterate smoker, and while 
in the stable a short time before the fire was discovered, 
he had dropped the stump of his cigar in the litter 
behind the horses, from which he knew the fire must 
have started ; so he had no one to blame but himself 
for his loss. 

The fire being now extinguished, the company dis- 
persed without any expression of gratitude from the 
Doctor for their neighborly services rendered. But 
a pleasant smile and a kind “Thank you,” from Nora, 
as George passed the veranda where she was standing 
as he left the yard, was worth far more to him than the 
Doctor’s money could have been. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


113 


CHAPTER XV. 

THE IRISHMAN AND HIS DOGS. 

I N following Jacob Staats so far, we have drifted en' 
tirely away from Pat Murphy, whom we introduced 
to the reader at the beginning of the previous chapter. 
We have said that Pat’s family consisted of himself and 
wife; but his lack of children was, in part at least, com- 
pensated for by a large family of dogs of various ages 
and breeds, numbering in all seven, at the time of this 
writing. At times, however, he was the owner of more 
than double this number. 

His time was about equally divided between his dogs 
and the Blackfoot saloon. In fact, his dogs furnished 
him a never failing subject of conversation, and had it 
not been that Mrs. Murphy was an excellent hand at 
the wash tub and ironing table, not only herself, but 
Pat antf his large family of dogs, would often have 
gone to bed hungry. He was peculiarly fond of his 
hounds and bull dogs, though three of the latter and 
one of the former were so vicious that he was obliged 
to keep them chained whenever he was unable to watch 
them ; and the unearthly howls they kept up day and 
night on this account, became anything but sweet music 
to his neighbors, and especially to Jacob Staats, whose, 
lot joined that of the dog fancier. 

Mr. Staats was a butcher and bologna sausage vender, 
and had of late been suffering severely with rheuma- 
tism, which was much aggravated by the sudden 


114 


CADDO ; OR , 


drenching bath he had received at the fire; so that, 
between his rheumatic pains and the howling of 
Murphy’s dogs, he had been kept awake nearly the 
whole night through. Seeing Pat the next morning, 
unchaining and feeding his dogs, Staats called to him to 
come to the fence that separated their lots, as he was 
in mortal fear of his neighbor’s dogs and dared not 
venture near the savage brutes. 

“ Vas for you so tarn many togs geep alreadty, Pat ?” 
said he. “Theynodt can some vork do your garten 
in, und they so much feetles eadt alreadty as my poys 
und cals pudt all together by himself.” 

“Be dad, Jake,” said Pat, “an’ it ain’t for wor- 
ruckin’ in me garden that Oi kapes me beautiful dogs, 
at all at all. Cathleen can do all that asy enough. It’s 
for the protiction av me property an’ their blissid com- 
pany, that Oi am kapin’ what few Oi’ve got left. You 
know Oi sold thra last Friday.” 

“Yell, Pat, vot you got left make so tam much noise 
mit dher howlins dot ter tuyfel not could sleep mit in a 
mile of ’em.” 

“ The divil go slapy, thin,” said Pat. “ Fhwot ud 
he be after tryin’ to slape around here for, anyhow ?” 

Staats was a peaceable man, and preferred buying and 
killing the seven remaining dogs, to having any trouble 
with his neighbor ; so he said : 

“ Pat, I vants to some togs puy, alreadty. Vot are 
all your togs vordt ?” 

This struck Pat in a tender spot, as he was owing ten 
dollars at the Blackfoot saloon on old scores for drinks, 
and had been refused any further credit if he failed to 
settle his account that week ; so he replied : 

“Twinty dollars for the lot, av ye dare.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


115 


“ Nine, Pat, I nodt can so mooch moneysh bay; ta 
not bees more tan seven tollar vort, if ta all vas fat 
enough for bologna sausages, alreadty.” 

“The divil go azy wid your siven dollars! An it’s 
not Pat Murphy that ud be afther silling all av his foin 
dogs so chape ; but av ye’ll give me tin dollars for the 
lot ye may take ’em, an bad luck to yeze.” 

* ‘ I not vill dake der togs at any brice, but ofer you 
vill pring him into mine yardt over, und tie him midt 
some shtakes to der groundt, I keefs you der ten dollar 
alreadty.” 

This Pat agreed to, as he thought his pets would be 
so near him that he could see and hear them almost as 
well as if they were in his own yard ; and the ten dollars 
would re-establish his credit with the Blackfoot saloon. 
So, after some parleying as to whether the dogs’ chains 
should be transferred with the dogs, and it finally being 
agreed that Pat should have the chains back that even- 
ing, he took them all over into Staat’s back yard and 
staked them out in a semicircle, just out of reach of 
each other, and then went back, shaking his ten silver 
dollars at his wife, who had been patiently waiting the 
past half hour for the transaction to be over, so that he 
could eat his breakfast with her. Cathleen was highly 
delighted with the whole transaction, as she well knew 
the dogs were not only worthless property, but a nui- 
sance to the neighborhood, and twice had the town 
council been petitioned to abate it by a summary dispatch 
of Murphy’s worthless swarm of noisy canines. And 
she was congratulating herself on the prospect of some 
much needed clothing that both she and Pat could now 
secure for themselves by the cash just received, when 
her honored lord and master arose from the table, say- 


116 


CADDO ; OR , 


ing that he was going up to Blackfoot’s store to settle his 
account there. He had not told her before that he 
owed any bill there, and her heart sank within her at 
his reply to her question, as to how much it was, when 
she learned that the whole amount he had just received 
would be required to meet it. 

As Pat went past Mr. Staat’s lot on his way to the 
Blackfoot saloon, he saw his neighbor with his boys 
busily engaged in excavating a large hole on the back 
part of the lot, but he was in too much haste to make his 
arrangements secure for future drinks, to give his 
neighbor’s work more than a passing thought ; and not 
until his return late in the afternoon, (much the worse 
from liquor), did he learn that all of the seven dogs 
had found their last resting place in the wide and deep 
grave that Staats and his boys had dug for them. But 
his first impression was, on calling for his chains in the 
evening and finding some blood on them, that his neigh- 
bor had butchered the dogs for bologna. 

“ Der togs vill shtay glose py me now mitout some 
shanes und shtakes, Pat,” said Staats, as he handed the 
bloody chains to the latter, who had come over to see 
how his pets were getting along. 

“Sure, Jake, an have ye killed ivery blissed one av 
’em ?” said Pat in a much offended tone. 

“Yah, I not can so many togs und shilders togeder 
geep alreadty.” 

“ Ow, you hathen, butcherin’ Dutchman,” said Pat, 
“to make all those foin dogs up into bologna at once. 
Why don’t you fade yer family on something dacent, 
loik Oi do mine ?” 

“ I dinks your frow der vamily veeds alreadty, Pat. 
You not ever some dings to eadt home prings vonce, so 


CUPID IN THE GAS EEL T. 


117 


pedder you look a leedle oudt how you say ve eadt togs.” 

“ The divil take the loiks av yer fer killin such beau- 
tiful bastes ; an av ye’ll coom over in my yard Oi’ll tache 
yez how to kill a dacent lot av dogs an’ ate ’em all up in 
wan day, av ye have a large family. Bad luck to 
yez.” 

This was too much for Staats, and he indignantly re- 
plied : 

“I toldt you alreadty dot ve not der togs eadt. Ve 
purriedt him all togeder in von pig hole py himself ; und 
I vill not some more such talkings shtandt vrom you. 
So pedder you go into my yardt ouse bretty quick rhidt 
avay off, oder I vill some thrashings give you mit ter 
groundt.” 

Pat was not so drunk but that he could see the danger 
of being much worsted in a conflict with Staats and his 
boys, so he permitted himself to be led home by his 
faithful wife, who insisted on his going immediately 
with her, but he muttered dire vengeance against his 
neighbor as he went ; and after reaching his own yard 
he stormed out : 

“Bad luck to the loikes av ye murtherin’ villains. 
Maybe ye thinks yez got some chape bologna. Be dad, 
I belave you wod butcher the divil himself, av yez were 
out of mate. Bad cess to yez.” 

This he said, having a vague idea that his dogs had 
been converted into bologna sausage for the benefit of 
Staats’ large family. So the remainder of the evening was 
spent in venting his rage on his patient wife, who, like 
myriads of other women, clung faithfully to her reckless, 
worthless husband ; bearing all of this unmerited abuse, 
without a mumur or complaint toward him who had 
pledged his protecting love to her at the sacred altar. 


118 


CADDO; OR , 



For several days after the death of the dogs, Pat was 
gloomy and dejected, and seemingly in a deep study. 
Finally he was missed from Caddo, but no one knew 
where he had gone nor why he had left the place. Two 
weeks after, however, he was seen late in the afternoon, 

coming back, 
leading, or al- 
most dragging, 
two large and 
horridly ugly 
dogs behind 
him, both of the 
female persua- 
sion. Where 
he had found 
such abomin- 
able canine 
specimens, no 
one could 
guess ; but that 
his yard was 
soon well 
stocked again 
Avith a noisy 
breed of dogs, 
his neighbors 
were painfully conscious, as their unearthly howling kept 
Staats awake for two nights after their arrival. 

“Py tam,” said he, “I findt me oudt I peen von big 
fool alreadty, mit puying so many togs to shtop dhere 
noishe, ver dhose vot Pat prings day pehindt yesterday 
can vake ter very tuyfel mit dhere howlings.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


119 


CHAPTER XVI. 

MARRIED TO A FAST MAN. 

“ ’Tis not in titles, nor in rank ; 

’Tis not in wealth, like London Bank, 

To make us truly blessed.” 

T WO years have made many changes in Caddo. 

Among these changes, that of Belle Blackfoot’s ap- 
pearing in society as one of the reigning belles of fashion 
as well as in name, creating the greatest sensation, 
especially with the young men of Caddo. She was 
really handsome, though her dark eyes, with jet black 
hair and rosy cheeks, made her beauty of a far coarser 
type than that of her younger sister, Nora; who, with 
her bright, golden hair, and sky-blue eyes, and a com- 
plexion that almost rivaled the lily for whiteness, pre- 
sented a picture of rare beauty, loveliness and modesty, 
which caused many a heart to beat more quickly, and 
many a head to turn and look admiringly after her as 
she passed. 

While Belle was offensively proud of her handsome 
and stylish appearance, Nora seemed to be totally un- 
conscious of the fact that her beauty, grace and loveli- 
ness had no rival in Caddo. 

Dr. Blackfoot was justly proud of his handsome 
daughters, and while he furnished them with plenty of 
money to gratify every reasonable desire, yet he ruled 
with an iron hand as to what company they should 
entertain. It mattered not how intelligent, refined, 


120 


CADDO; OR, 


or truly noble in character the young man might be 
who dared to call at the Blackfoot mansion, for even 
a social chat with his daughters, if the gentleman 
was not considered decidedly wealthy, he was soon 
made to feel that he was a most unwelcome guest, by 
both the Doctor and his wife, and not infrequently by 
Belle herself. 

In direct contrast with Dr. and Mrs. Blackfoot, in 
this respect, were their neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Asa 
Warren, whose two daughters, Maggie and Nina, were 
the same age of Belle and Nora. Frequently had they 
warned their daughters of the danger in encouraging 
the attentions of any young gentlemen who were of 
intemperate and impure habits, regardless of what their 
wealth, or social relations might be. 

Nina, the younger of the Warren girls, was wayward 
and fond of stylish dress and display, and found the 
society of Belle Blackfoot more to her taste than that of 
any other girl in Caddo ; while Maggie Warren and 
Nora Blackfoot were the warmest friends, enjoying each 
other’s society more than either did that of her sister. 
The Warren girls were not so dazzlingly beautiful as 
were the Doctor’s daughters, yet they were handsome 
and attractive; and as Mr. Warren was the wealthy 
president of the Caddo bank, his daughters were always 
made quite welcome at Dr. Blackfoot’s residence. 

Nina Warren had taken quite a fancy to Edgar Noble, 
which he heartily reciprocated; and had it not been 
that his father, William Noble, had recently become 
bankrupt through his reckless, wayward sons, she would 
not for a moment have hesitated in yielding to his suit 
for her hand, although she well knew that he was dissipa- 
ting fearfully, and scarcely a week passed that he did not 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


121 


leave the Blackfoot saloon much the worse from liquor. 
In vain did her anxious parents plead with her to have 
nothing to do with him, not on account of his poverty, 
but through fear of the consequences of his dissipation. 
In vain did they picture to her the horrors of a drunkard’s 
wife. 

Nina was a self-willed girl, and the more she was op- 
posed in her love affair the more determied was she in 
disregarding all warning and counsel from those whom 
she knew were her best and truest friends ; and she al- 
lowed the advice of Belle Blackfoot to outweigh them 
all. Belle was her confidential friend in everything. 

One evening as she and Belle were sitting alone in 
the Doctor’s library, she said, “ Belle, I’m just worried 
to death lately. Pa and Ma and everybody else are 
just going for me about Edgar. They seem to think 
because he gets a little funny at times, that he is bound 
to make a drunkard of himself. Even Maggie is fret- 
ting about it, and says she hopes I will never think of 
marrying so fast a young man as he is getting to be.” 

“ Oh, fiddlesticks, Nora !” said Belle, “ I should not let 
such advice as that have any weight with me, I assure 
you. I know Ed. is just a little bit fast, but then all 
young men with any style and spirit about them are that 
way now-a-days. The only thing / should object to, is 
his poverty, for he is a handsome, stylish looking fel- 
low, and the jolliest company in town. Then you know 
his father used to be well off, so Ed. knows just how to 
carry himself with us wealthy girls or any other stylish 
society. Why, I tell you Nina, I’d much rather dance 
with him than with my own beau, Fin Mincer, for Ed. 
is so strong and manly that he almost carries me on his 
arm through the dance, while Mr. Mincer is such a little 
9 


122 


CADDO; OR, 


spindle-shanked fellow I’m. always afraid to lean on him 
for support, and I sometimes have to hold him up; but 
stars alive he’s wealthy, and that covers a multitude of 
sins, Pa says.” 

“ Oh, forever Belle! how you talk about Mr. Mincer. 
I’ll bet his ears are burning now.” 

“Well it’s a fact, Nina, and if Ed. Noble was half as 
rich as Fin Mincer, I’d do my best to cut you out, and 
I’d turn Mincer adrift too quick, if Ed. does drink to 
excess and flirt with fast girls occasionally.” 

“But candidly, Belle, do you really care enough for 
Mr. Mincer to marry him ? I can’t believe yo do, from 
the way you talk about him.” 

“No, Nina, I do not” said Belle, sadly, “Arthur 
Worthington is the only man I ever really loved, and I 
know I shall never love another as I did him. I have 
regretted a thousand times since the night I refused his 
manly offer on account of his poverty, that I did not 
follow the leadings of my heart instead of my foolish 
pride. But that is all over with now, for he is climbing 
by his own efforts to an honored position in life, while I 
shall probably drift off with that brainless Mincer, be- 
cause he is wealthy and can keep me in high style. But 
of course you will never be poor, for your father is 
wealthy and he will see that you are grandly started in 
life, let you marry whom you will. Besides, Edgar will 
settle down to sober, steady habits, after you are married ; 
at least you can keep him from going to excess.” 

“ Oh, I have no doubt of that , Belle, for he told me 
last week that he was going to swear off New Year’s 
day, and I think he would take the pledge at any time 
I should urge him to do so. He says he will do any- 
thing I ask him to. ” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


123 


“ Well, Nina, what more can you ask of a man than 
that ? Of course you can’t ask him to join the church 
and take a Sunday School class, and turn temperance 
crank like his uncle, Henry Hartley, before you would 
marry him.” 

“Oh, no, of course I shall not ask any such unreason- 
able things of him. He would think me a crazy fool 
if I should. No, Belle, he thinks the world of me, 
and I know I do of him, and of course he will do any- 
thing I ask of him after we are married ; besides, I 
sometimes think it is my duty to marry him, to reform 
him, for he declared he should drink himself to death if 
I refused him.” 

“Then why hesitate longer, Nina? I am sure I 
should not if I were in your place, though all the world 
opposed.” 

“ Why, Belle, I’m only seventeen, and Pa and Ma 
will never give their consent.” 

“ Oh, well, you can run off and marry without that; 
besides it is you, and not they that will have to live with 
him, and if you are willing to take your chances, they 
ought not to object.” 

Such advice would have had no weight with Maggie, 
neither would Belle’s sister, Nora, have been guilty of 
giving it. But it is so much easier for the young and 
inexperienced to follow the leadings of passion, than 
it is to be governed by their better judgment and the 
advice prompted by parental love, that thousands have 
made, and other thousands will continue to make the 
same sad mistake that Nina Warren did in less than two 
weeks after the above conversation took place between 
herself and Belle Blackfoot; for she fled in the night 
with Edgar to an adjoining State, and sealed her fate 


124 


CADDO; OR, 


for life by becoming his wife, while she was scarcely 
more than a child. 

Finley Mincer, the young man to whom Belle re- 
ferred as her “beau,” was of a wealthy family of 
Mincers who lived in Bluffton some thirty miles away. 
His father, George Mincer, had been unfortunate in 
business and was on the verge of bankruptcy. His 
partner, Walter Bentley, was well acquainted with Dr. 
Blackfoot’ s family, and he conceived the idea, that if a 
matrimonial alliance could be effected soon between his 
partner’s son and one of the Doctor’s daughters, it 
might materially aid them in tiding over their present 
financial strain. So, as young Mincer had met Belle 
at a ball in Caddo some weeks before, and had told 
Bentley what a splendid dancer she was, and also showed 
that he was “desperately smitten” with her, Mr. 
Bentley advised him to marry her and then come in 
and take a third partner’s interest in the hardware firm 
of Mincer, Bentley & Co. 

“Indeed, I should be very happy to do so,” said 
Fin, “but I hawdly know how so desiwable a featuwe 
can be brought about. Doctah Blackfoot, I am in- 
fawmed is vawy awistocwatic, and also vawy cawful 
about who his dawtahs keep company with.” 

“Very well, Fin, I’ll manage all that ; Doc. Blackfoot 
likes money as well as any man. I shall see him this 
week as I have some business in Caddo, and I shall tell 
him of your prospect of becoming the third partner in 
our firm as soon as you are married and ready to settle 
down to business; but of course I shall not intimate 
that you have ever met his daughter.” 

So it was arranged that Fin should have the finest 
turnout that the best livery in Bluffton could furnish, 
to drive over to Caddo the following Sunday. 


CUPID TU THE GAS BELT. 


125 


CHAPTER XVII. 

MARRIED FOR WEALTH. 

O NE pleasant Sabbath afternoon, a young man of 
extremely ‘ ‘ dudish ” appearance was seen driving 
into Caddo behind a fine team of beautiful blacks. The 
eyes of the loafers followed him until he reined up in 
front of Dr. Blackfoot’s residence. He was diminutive 
in size, with a faint mustache that seemed to beg pardon 
for the slight shadow it cast over his lip, while the re- 
mainder of his face was smooth as that of a boy ten 
years old ; yet he claimed to have passed his twenty- 
third year. He was also decidedly “pigeon-toed” and 
bow-legged, which gave him anything but a graceful 
appearance as he walked, or rather wabbled up to the 
Doctor’s front veranda, holding a diminutive cane in a 
daintily gloved hand, near the shadow on his upper lip, 
while his nose glasses gave the finishing touch to this 
modern “dude.” 

‘ ‘ Who the devil is that dandy a waltzin’ up to Doc. ’s 
now d’ye reckon?” said Joe Gassett. “I’ll bet the 
drinks he’s after one of Doc.’s girls.” 

“Well, I won’t bet no drinks,” said Josh Slathers, 
who was just passing the crowd on the corner as Gas- 
sett made the above remarks, “but I’ll bet ten dollars 
that he’ll get the grand bounce ef he tackles Nora fer a 
ride. She’s got too much good hoss sense to ever be 
ketched a ridin’ out with eny sich a durned lookin’ cuss 
as that.” 


126 


CADDO; OR , 


“It maybe that she will not, but you can bet your 
bottom dollar that Belle will never let a chance slip for 
riding behind such a fine team as that, even if it was an 
idiot driving them,” said Jim Burton, who had once 
been refused the honor of Belle’s company, as he sup- 
posed, on account of the lack of elegance in his attire. 

“What do you call an idiot, Jim?” said Slathers. 

“Why, a natural born fool, of course, or a person 
void of common sense.” 

“ Well, ef that don’t strike Fin Mincer ’bout all over, 

I don’t know what words you could put together as 
would pictur the durned cuss any better.” 

“ Fin Mincer? Who the deuce is Fin Mincer?” said 
Burton. 

“Why, that bow-legged, spindle-shanked, devil’s 
puke, as jist got outen’ that ere fine trottin’ buggy, an’ 
wabbled up to Doc. Blackfoot’s.” 

“ Where did you get acquainted with him, Josh?” 

“ I aint to say much acquainted with him, but I met 
him here on the street the night afore the last dance at 
Odd Feller’s hall, an’ he ast me who Belle Blackfoot 
was, as she was a drivin’ past us on the street, jist as I 
met him. ‘That’s Doc. Blackfoot’s oldest pullet,’ sez I, 

‘ but who are you ?’ * My name is Minsah, sah, of the 

wealthy firm of Minsah, Bentley & Co., of Bluffton,’ 
sez he ; ‘ and I should vewy highly pwize an intwoduc- 
tion to the Doctah’s daughtah, foah she is suahly a 
beauty of the first watah.’ ‘Likely ’nough gal,’ sez I, 
‘but what claim have you on her ?’ ‘ My awistocwatic 

and wealthy position in society, sah, entitles me to an 
intwoduction to any handsome lady whom I choose to 
favah with the honahs of my attentions.’ ‘The devil it 
does,’ sez I, ‘an’ where did ye get that bit of information,’ 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


127 


sez I. An’ then he went on with a lot uv stuff ’bout 
down east Yankees a bein’ too green to give an intro- 
duction in good society, an’ tellin’ how rich his father 
wuz, an’ ’bout how many Revolutionary heroes he wuz 
kin to, an’ how many quarts uv blue blood there wuz a 
sloshin’ ’round through his own veins, an’ a lot more 
sich sickinin’ stuff, ’till I had to hold my nose an’ ast 
him to ’scuse me ’till I could step across the street an’ 
vomit. But somehow he got an invitation to the ball 
that night, an’ they say he actually danced more’n a 
dozen sets with Belle; but, gosh , I can’t see how she 
stood it.” 

Mr. Bentley was a prominent Odd Fellow, and on 
visiting the Caddo lodge shortly after his talk with young 
Mincer, he managed to get an invitation to Dr. 
Blackfoot’s for tea. This gave him an excellent oppor- 
tunity for advancing Fin’s suit, by incidentally men- 
tioning, while at tea, that as the young man had just 
finished his high school course, and had shown his 
ability to drive some sharp bargains, they had decided 
to give him a third interest in their firm. 

Neither the Doctor nor his wife had been at all favorably 
impressed with young Mincer, yet they had treated him 
^civily on account of his supposed wealthy connections. 
But now that he was about to become one of the firm 
of Mincer, Bentley & Co., he was, in their estimation, 
entitled to marked respect, and was considered a desir- 
able suitor for Belle’s hand. So six weeks after the 
night Belle Blackfoot first met Finley Mincer at Odd 
Fellows’ hall, she was driven behind the fine team of 
blacks to Fin’s home in Bluffton as Mrs. Belle Mincer. 
She was not long in learning, however, that the fine 
team of blacks she had so much admired, belonged 


128 


CADDO; OR , 


to the proprietor of the leading livery stable in Bluffton, 
as a bill of twenty dollars for their use on his wedding 
trip, was left with her during his absence, by one of the 
livery stable men. 

Fin also told his wife that in order to get into the 
firm of Mincer, Bentley & Co. , he would have to raise 
at least eight thousand dollars more money than he had, 
as another party, who had the ready cash, was trying to 
buy in and take this third interest. 

While the latter statement was wholly untrue, yet he 
made his wife believe that Mr. Bentley feared the con- 
sequences of permitting Mr. Mincer and his son to get a 
controlling interest in the firm, and was secretly trying 
to work one of his own friends into the firm in his stead. 
He also made his wife believe that a third interest in 
the firm was worth forty thousand dollars, and asked if 
she could not induce her father to advance him, as a 
loan, eight thousand dollars, the amount he said he 
lacked of having enough to take this third interest ; say- 
ing he could replace it at almost any time within a few 
months, if it should be needed. The proposition seemed 
so reasonable to Belle, that she wrote a long letter to 
her father, placing matters in even a fairer light, if 
possible, than Fin had presented them to her, and 
asking for the amount as a loan, enclosing a note for 
eight thousand dollars, payable in ninety days, at the 
Bluffton Bank ; the note being signed by her husband, 
as principal, and endorsed by Mincer, Bentley & Co. 
She wrote a glowing account of the amount of money the 
firm had made the past year, and urged her father to be 
sure to forward a draft for the eight thousand dollars by 
return mail , if he could not come immediately and bring 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT, 


129 


it, as she feared that Bentley’s friend would overreach 
them and get the stock. 

While this was contrary to Dr. Blackfoot’s usually 
cautious method of doing business, yet he determined 
to risk it in this case, for if the matter had been truly 
represented, there was no time to lose ; moreover, the 
idea of his son-in-law being superseded by Bentley’s 
friend, for the lack of a little timely help, and that only 
as a temporary loan, was not to be thought of; and as it 
was impossible for him to go to Bluffton for some days 
on account of a lawsuit he then had pending in court, 
he went immediately to the bank and gave his check 
for four thousand dollars, and his note of ninety days 
for four thousand dollars, with the eight thousand dollar 
note of Mincer, Bentley & Co., as collateral security, 
in payment for the draft, which he sent to his daughter 
by first mail. 


130 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

THE WEALTHY (?) SON-IN-LAW SPECULATES WITH A 
VENGEANCE. 

I T does not take long for ninety days to pass. At 
least this is what the firm of Mincer, Bentley & Co. 
thought, as they had many other notes to meet besides 
the one they had endorsed for Fin to Dr. Blackfoot ; 
and as their many creditors began to see that it was 
only a question of time, as to when the sinking firm 
would have to succumb, each one seemed determined 
to collect or secure his claim at maturity; so the result 
was, an assignment by the firm, with liabilities far be- 
yond their assets. The note given at the Caddo bank as 
collateral security was consequently an utter loss, and 
as the Doctor had made no provision for meeting his 
own note, supposing that the note endorsed by Mincer, 
Bentley & Co. would be promply met at maturity, he 
was placed in an unpleasant dilemma when notified 
three days before his note of four thousand dollars fell 
due in the Caddo bank, that the firm of Mincer, Bentley 
& Co. had failed, and that he would be required to 
give additional security if he desired further extension 
of time on his own note. Bitter curses escaped his lips 
as he read the short note from his banker. 

“ What does that scape-grace of a son-in-law mean to 
permit such a crash as this to come up and never notify 
me of it ? Why has Belle failed to mention it in any 
of her letters ? Why did they say nothing about their 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


131 


impending danger when we were with them only four 
weeks ago? Curse the luck ! I shall go right to Bluff- 
ton and see what this all means. Possibly Fin has 
secured my claim ; if so, I shall be all right. I intended 
to give them the four thousand dollars, but this puts me 
in a devil of a fix here at the bank, if he has not done 
this, with the other four thousand dollars to pay, and 
only three days in which to raise the money. This is 
the first favor I ever asked of the bank, and d — d if I 
do not hate most cussedly to be compelled to ask for an 
extension of time; yet there is nothing I can convert 
into so much cash on so short notice. But I may as 
well know the worst to-day as any time.” 

So that afternoon found him in Bluffton, in consulta- 
tion with Fin’s father and Walter Bentley, from whom 
he soon learned that the firm was hopelessly ruined, and 
largely from outside speculations on margins, and also 
by trying to do too large a business for their capital ; on 
account of which the high rate of interest they had for 
years past been compelled to pay, had more than con- 
sumed their profits. He also learned that Fin had only 
put $4,000 of the $8,000 into the firm’s business, and 
had used the remainder of it in buying wheat through 
the Chicago board of trade. His first month’s deal had 
been successful, making him $500. This so elated him 
that he reinvested the whole amount, including the $500, 
besides an additional amount he had raised in some 
way, but how, was not clearly explained. 

“The probabilities are, then,” said the Doctor, “that 
his loss in this transaction will be heavy.” 

“It cannot be otherwise,” said Bentley, “as the 
market has been running strongly against him, and the 
time is nearly up for closing the deal.” 


132 


CADDO ; OR, 


“But, gentlemen,” said Dr. Blackfoot, “you surely 
can make some arrangement for securing the four 
thousand dollars of my money that has gone into your 
business? Of course the four thousand dollars that 
Fin has gambled away on margins has gone to the 
devil, and there’s no help for it; but that doesn’t 
wrong me so much, for I intended to give them that 
amount as a starter, anyway.” 

“We are sorry, Doctor, that we can do nothing to 
secure your claim. Indeed, it would afford us much 
pleasure to do so,” said Bentley, “but the First Na- 
tional Bank was carrying us for thirty thousand dollars, 
and the People’s Bank for twenty-five thousand dollars, 
and we were compelled to give the two banks a lien 
on our entire stock and real estate, which of course, 
places it beyond our power to do anything for you.” 

“Well, gentlemen,” said the Doctor, “I think I see 
in all this, a devilish scheme for downright robbery, and 
if you refuse to do anything for me, I shall take legal 
steps to secure my claim, if it puts every d — d one of 
you in the penitentiary.” 

So saying he left them in no pleasant humor, and went 
back to the home of his son-in-law, where he had first 
called that afternoon on his arrival at Bluffton, but 
learning that Fin and Belle were out riding, had, as 
stated above, called on Messrs. Mincer and Bentley 
before seeing his children, who in the meantime had 
returned. Here he found things in a still worse condi- 
tion than he had even feared. Belle was weeping bitterly 
as she met her father at the door, and said : 

“Oh, Papa, I am so glad you have come, for we are 
in an awful fix, and I was just going to write you to 
come. I wish now I had told you all, sooner. But 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


133 


Fin said to wait and possibly things would turn out 
better than ” 

Here she broke down completely and could say no 
more. Fin met his father-in-law with a senseless, sickly 
grin, saying : 

“Well, the jig is up, and the fiddler is to pay. But 
it seems vewy stwange, how my agent on the Chicago 
bowd of twade should be so unfowtunate in managing 
my last business twansactions. They have lost evwy 
dollah of my money, and moah is called foah.” 

This was a little too much for the irate father-in-law, 
and he indignantly exclaimed : 

“Curse your wild gambling speculations, with those 
Chicago cut-throats. It would have been good enough 
for you if it had been your own money; but when you 
lie me out of my money, as you did in getting this 
eight thousand dollars, that the whole d — d outfit of 
you have gambled away, you may as well understand 
first as last that you’ve got the last dollar you’ll ever 
get from me to gamble on.” 

“Oh! my deah sir, you suahly misapwehend the 
natuah of these twansactions. This is not gambling in 
the pwopah acceptation of that term. Why, I know 
sevwal church membews and Sunday School men who 
deal in mawgins, and they think it is vewy fwee fwom 
any taint of gambling.” 

“Well, Fin, I’m no church member nor Sunday 
School man either, but I call things by their true name. 
And when you say that wheat will stand at a certain 
figure in thirty or sixty days from now, and put four 
thousand dollars in the hands of a gambling stake-holder 
to back up your word, you are doing the biggest kind of 
gambling, and you can’t make anything else out of it. 


134 


CADDO; OR , 


And I say that any church member that goes into such 
gambling schemes, is just as big a hypocrite as the 
devil wishes him to be.” 

‘ ‘ Oh ! my deah sir, you suahly misapwehend how 
this business is twansacted,” said Fin. “ It is this way : 
we meahly ask one of the membews of the bowd of 
twade to buy or sell so many bushels of gwain for future 
delivery.” 

“No, you don’t, Fin, you never expect to handle, 
touch, receive, deliver, nor even see a bushel of that 
grain. You just simply bet on the future price of it, 
and, fool-like, bet against another man’s game and he 
holding the winning card in addition to your money. 
If I were going to try to make money in this way, I 
should go right to the gambling table at once, for there 
I should have the whole game right before my eyes. 
But now I wish to know just what condition you are in, 
and how you expect to meet your note that falls due 
next Friday, and which is now in the Caddo bank ?” 

‘‘Well, my deah sir, I am vewy sowwy to say, I feah 
I shall have to ask an’ extension of the time on that 
note.” 

“ But how will you meet the interest?” 

“ O ! ah, yes, indeed, I had not thought of that. 
Well, I guess I shall have to ask for an extension of the 
time on that, too.” 

“The devil you will. Don’t you know that banks 
are not in the habit of doing business in that way ?” 

“ Well, fathah, I may as well tell you just what my 
situation is, although it is vewy embawasing at pvvesent 
to do so. This house we live in belongs to my fathah ; 
but he intended to deed it to me as soon as his affaihs 
could be stwaightened up. But the stwingency of the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


135 


times compelled him to turn evwy thing ovah to the 
banks that had cawied him so long, and that of course 
takes owah home. Then, as I had done so well in my 
first wheat deal, I mortgaged my household furnituah 
for all the money I could get in that way and put it with 
the four thousand dollars, and the five hundred dollars 
I had made in my first deal, into the hands of my agent 
on the bowd of twade in Chicago, and I have just 
weceived a lettah fwom him, saying, all is sunk, and 
calling on me for two hundred arid fifty dollars to close 
the deal. 5 ’ 

‘ ‘ Great heavens, man ! Then you, too, are worse than 
bankrupt. You are homeless, moneyless, and in debt 
besides. What are you going to do to support your- 
self ?” 

‘‘Well, weally, I hawdly know, sir; as that is a mat- 
tah I had thought but vewy little about.” 

Every expression from his shallow brained son-in-law 
increased the loathing and disgust that Dr. Blackfoot 
already felt for this worthless, helpless appendage, 
which he clearly saw would now be thrown on him for 
support. So turning to his daughter, he said : 

“ Belle, you must go home with me. If Fin chooses 
to follow you he can do so, but what the devil to do 
with him in Caddo is more than I know. And as it 
yet lacks two hours of train time, I shall attend to some 
other business here in Bluffton while you are getting 
your things ready to go back home with me.” 

So saying, he took his hat and went to Lawyer Hen- 
derson’s office, and after clearly stating the whole case, 
asked him if there would be any legal way of securing, 
or recovering any part of his claim against the firm of 
Mincer, Bentley & Co. 


136 


CADDO; OR, 


“ If there is,” said he, “ I wish you to take the case 
and prosecute it to the bitter end.” 

“ Doctor,” said Henderson, “ I have been looking 
into this matter for other parties, who, like yourself, are 
heavy losers by this firm, and I find that the banks 
here have everything covered, and even they, with 
their first lien, will scarcely be able to recover the entire 
amounts due them.” 

“Then my whole claim has gone to the devil, and I 
am eight thousand dollars out, and a d — d idiot of a 
son-in-law into my family for me to support, besides.’’ 

“Iam sorry to say, Doctor, that the case appears to 
be very nearly as you have stated it. Fin, as every one 
here calls him, has never been trained for any useful 
employment, has run the streets from a little child, and 
has no knowledge of any legitimate business. His 
father, until recently has always kept him well supplied 
with money, and as he never earned a dollar in his life, 
he knows nothing of the value of money. What you 
will be able to do with him is more than I can imagine, 
I assure you.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


137 


CHAPTER XIX. 


MINCER HONORS (?) CADDO WITH HIS CANE AND 
CITIZENSHIP. 



R. Blackfoot slowly wended his way back from 


I J Henderson’s office to the home of his son-in-law, 
bitterly cursing Mincer, Bentley, Fin, and lastly him- 
self, for being such a fool as to favor the marriage of 
his daughter to such a shallow brained fop, when he 
knew she really loved and would have married Arthur 
Worthington, if she had not, from her childhood, been 
trained to consider the lack of wealth as a mark of dis- 
grace, not to be tolerated in a suitor by any aristocratic 


lady. 


“True,” thought he, “Worthington was only a 
school teacher at the time he sought Belle’s hand, but 
now that he is occupying an honored position as one of 
the professors in Oberlin College, and possibly will 
acquire wealth in time, I see I was a fool for opposing 
it. But this Fin ; this worthless , vapid , visionary shadow 
of a man, what shall I ever do with him ? If we had 
not blowed so cursed much about his wealth it would 

not have been so d d humiliating to have him come 

back on us now for support. But there’s no help for it, 
and, bitter as the nauseating dose is, we’ve got to take 
it.” 

Belle met him with a faint smile as he entered the 
door, feeling much happier than she did when he had 
10 


138 


CADDO; OR , 


first arrived, for she was really glad to know that she 
was to go back to her old home. 

“Fin,” said the Doctor, “'you may pack up every- 
thing that belongs to Belle, and ship them over to Caddo, 
and if you see fit to come along with the goods, you can 
do so. Probably I can find something for you to do 
there.” 

“Why* my deah sir, we have just got evwything 
packed in the thwee lawge twunks except my cane and 
what is mawtgaged to Mistah Stwingah, the bwokah, 
and I pwefer going to-day, if Belle goes.” 

The bus had just arrived at the door for the passen- 
gers and trunks. The house was locked and the key 
given to a neighbor, with instructions to let Mr. Stringer 
have it when called for, and the three were soon whirl- 
ing over the dusty street to the depot. But just as the 
party arrived at the station, Fin remembered his cane, 
which, in the excitement at starting, he had left back at 
at the house. Not knowing what to do with his hands 
without this ornament, he went back for it, and returned 
to the depot just in time to see the train move off with- 
out him ; but the next day found him and his cane in 
Caddo, where he will probably remain during his life. 

This was a busy day for Dr. Blackfoot, as Friday, 
the day following, his note in the bank must be met in 
some way ; so he was busily engaged until late in the 
evening, making collections wherever it was possible 
for him to do so. But three hundred dollars was all 
he could raise in this way — a mere pittance with which 
to meet a four thousand dollar note. 

Never before had he been placed jn such a dilemma; 
for as the bank had notified him that additional security 
would be required if he wished an extension of time, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


189 


and as he had refused to endorse for so many of the 
best citizens, for much smaller amounts, he knew of no 
one acceptable to the bank of whom he dared to ask 
such a favor. So he decided to ask for an extension 
of time with a new note, and offer as collateral security 
the five thousand dollar first mortgage note held on 
Henry Hartley. Accordingly, he called at the bank 
the next morning, and asked if the above proposition 
would be satisfactory. 

“ Not altogether, ” said Mr. Bland, the cashier; “we 
prefer good personal security ; besides, the Hartley note 
has three years to run yet. Morever, we dislike putting 
ourselves in a position which might render it necessary 
to forclose this, or any other mortgage.” 

“Then you would not take a lien on any of my own 
property as security ?” 

“We would rather not, Doctor, if you can give good 
personal security.” 

“ As I have refused nearly every good man in Caddo, 
when asked for similar favors, I fear I shall not be able 
to give it ; but I will make you amply safe by a first lien 
on any of my property.” 

“Well, Doctor, under the circumstances we will 
make an exception in your case, if you will make the 
proper assignment of the Hartley note and mortgage to 
the bank; and we will give you an extension of six 
months’ time on your note. Perhaps you can convert 
some of your property into cash by that time.” 

So the matter was arranged on the latter plan, and 
Dr. Blackfoot left the bank, feeling poorer by eight 
thousand dollars than he did three months before. 


140 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XX. 

BARRIERS THROWN BETWEEN GEORGE AND NORA. 


“What is love, that all the world 
Talk so much about it ? 

What is love, that neither you 
Nor I can do without it?” 



NOT HER year has passed, and George Hartley, 


a dark haired, broad shouldered, “six footer/’ 


of twenty, and Nora Blackfoot, a most beautiful, blue 
eyed, golden haired blonde of eighteen, present quite a 
different appearance now, from that which was seen on 
the streets of Caddo three years before, when the lithe 
boy of seventeen caught the frightened horse, that was 
running away with the worse frightened girl of fifteen. 
They had not only been playmates, but classmates at 
school as well, for years. And while neither had ever 
spoken a word that would indicate feelings of special 
interest in the other, yet there was an unuttered senti- 
ment of the heart in each, which their eyes only revealed. 
Ever since George had so bravely risked his life to save 
her’s, the true woman in Nora’s heart had been awakened 
toward him. And as the months and years passed on, 
his noble, manly bearing toward everyone, had won her 
admiration and regard to such an extent that he was 
now enshrined in her heart as the grand idol of her 
highest earthly affections ; while he felt that this beauti- 
ful, pure, and truthful girl, had so grown into his heart 
as to almost form a part of himself. Yet he was pain- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


141 


fully conscious that an insurmountable barrier stood be- 
tween them, which only wealth, either inherited or 
acquired, could remove. 

Nora was comparatively rich, he was poor. Her 
father was a money lender, his a borrower, and almost 
hopelessly in debt to the father of the girl he loved. It 
seemed like obtrusive presumption in him to aspire to 
her hand, as her parents were proud and aristocratic, 
and seemed to take delight in making him feel his social 
inferiority and unworthiness to claim the least attention 
from any member of their family. 

As an illustration of this statement, the Doctor and 
his wife called to visit the Caddo high school one Friday 
afternoon. The time after the three o’clock recess was 
to be devoted to literary exercises by the lyceum. A 
part of the exercises that afternoon being a dialogue in 
which George and Nora took prominent parts, they, 
with Charlie Quigley and Maggie Warren, were in the 
shade of a large elm near the walk in the school yard, 
rehearsing their parts, as Doctor and Mrs. Blackfoot 
entered the yard and passed near them on the way up to 
the school building. 

“ Nora,” said her father, “ come here.” Then in an 
angry tone, intended as much for George’s ears as 
Nora’s, said : “If you have no more regard for yourself 
nor us, than to associate on such familiar terms with 
paupers and fanatics, we shall take you out of this school 
and send you to a female seminary, where your teachers 
will have more care over you than they seem to have 
here.” 

“Yes, Nora,” said her mother, “we have warned 
you often enough on this subject. You see what a 
wreck Belle has made of her whole life and what trouble 


142 


CADDO; OR, 


she has brought on us all, and you are following right 
in her footsteps. You are disgracing both yourself and 
us, by putting yourself on an equality with day laborers.” 

Too well did Nora know the mind and temper of her 
parents on this subject to offer a word in defense of 
George, or even herself, but quietly walked along with 
them to the school building. When the dialogue re- 
ferred to was called for, George arose and in a dignified 
manner, asked to be excused, saying : 

“We have not had the opportunity of rehearsing 
together yet, and for other reasons best known to my- 
self, I shall ask that this exercise be indefinitely post- 
poned.” 

As he took his seat, he looked across the room to 
where Nora was sitting, and the bitterly sad expression 
of her face was mistaken by him for anger and disgust, 
and as she seemed to avoid him for some days afterward, 
he felt warranted in the belief that she partook largely 
of the feelings of her parents against him. This stung 
him so deeply, that when she shyly came into the recita- 
tion room several days after, where he was alone, work- 
ing on a difficult problem, he abruptly left the room 
without speaking to her, as he felt sure his company 
was distasteful to her ; and passing out, he gave her a 
look which she interpreted as meaning, “ When I want 
your company I shall ask for it.” 

How often it has been that ‘ 1 two loving hearts which 
should beat as one,” have allowed, perhaps through 
the faults and interference of others, a misunderstood 
look or word, to build barriers between them, which a 
lifetime of effort fails to remove. 

Nora’s parents had forbidden her the privilege of even 
giving George the slightest recognition, either by word, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


143 


look, or pen, under threat that a violation of this re- 
quirement would be sufficient reason for their sending 
her to an eastern boarding school for girls. This Nora 
dreaded almost as much as being buried alive, and to 
prevent being banished from home and all she loved, 
she promised to comply with this unreasonable demand. 
And, as she was almost daily reminded of this promise, 
and asked by her parents if she had kept it, she, being 
neither untruthful nor deceitful, dared not speak to nor 
recognize George in any manner. As this was so dif- 
ferent from her former conduct toward him, it is not 
strange that a barrier was built up between them, very 
much as her scheming parents designed there should 
be. Many noticed the changed conduct of both George 
and Nora, but no one understood it. No, not even 
did they themselves, 

“ Why does he try to avoid me, and look so cold and 
forbidding as if he hated me ?” thought Nora. 

“What have / done?” thought George, “that she 
never looks at me, if she thinks I am conscious of her 
presence ? And when I have suddenly caught her eye, 
she quickly turns away as if she was insulted that such 
as I should even dare to look at her. I had fondly 
believed that she was different from all the rest, and 
that she was as truly noble and good as she is wonder- 
fully beautiful. But mother must be right, ‘ Nora is a 
Blackfoot/ as she says, and I fear she has a black and 
treacherous heart like all the rest. Well, perhaps it is 
best that I should find her out in good time. I had 
hoped to be in a position some day to ask for her heart 
and hand, but that is all over now ; for surely if there 
was ever a hell on earth, it would be in the home of the 
man who found himself wedded to a false, inconstant, 


144 


CADDO; OR , 


and treacherous beauty. So, good bye, Nora. You 
may take your course and I shall pursue mine. Hence- 
forward, our paths in life shall be widely separated, and 
I now bid you a sad farewell forever. ” 

Thus did George think he could easily smother the 
flame that had been kindled in his heart by this pure 
and beautiful girl. But he, like thousands of others, 
found it much easier to resolve, than to accomplish such 
an undertaking. 

The quick eye of his mother soon detected the true 
state of his feelings. So one evening when she and 
George were sitting alone on the sofa, she lovingly laid 
her arm on his shoulder, and tenderly caressing his 
dark, curling hair with her fingers, as she looked the 
question into his sad eyes that she would not ask, feel- 
ing that, near as is a mother to her son, there are, at 
times, secret recesses in his heart into which even she 
may not enter unbidden. 

But, looking down into his mother’s loving eyes, he 
saw there a warm and tender sympathy, that his own 
heart was bleeding for, and clasping her in his arms, 
he sobbed out, as the tears came in his manly eyes : 

“ Mother, you are the only really good and true 
woman in the world. I can trust you and tell you all. 
I now see that you are right, ‘Nora is a Blackfoot,’ as 
you said, and she avoids me for no other reason than 
that I am poor. I could have seen her buried a month 
ago and gone on in my life work with far less bitterness 
in my heart than I now have with the consciousness that 
she is false, fickle and proud, and that she hates me only 
because I am poor. Why have I been so blind ? Why 
have I loved her so dearly and she so unworthy? Is it 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


145 


such a crime to be poor, mother, when every honest 
effort has been put forth to acquire wealth ?” 

“No, my son, a thousand times no. Besides, you 
are rich, George, in pure, true, noble, manly virtue, 
which should be, and is worth far more to every true 
woman, than all the wealth of the world could be to her 
without it. I should far rather know that you would 
live and die an honest poor man, than that you should 
acquire wealth by dealing, (as her father does,) in that 
which brings, not only poverty, degradation and death 
to your fellow man, but also final sorrow and ruin to 
your own soul. Nora is wholly unworthy of you, if 
she discards you because you lack wealth. God rules 
the world, George, and the time may come when you 
will be as far above her, even in the scale of wealth, as 
she now feels herself above you.” 

“I know, mother, that you have always taught me 
that God rules the world, but of late I have been sorely 
tempted to doubt it. Why does He let such a man as 
Doc. Blackfoot prosper and lord it over the poor as he 
has done so long here in Caddo ? It seems to me more 
like the devil has ruled here of late.” 

“Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 

But trust Him for His grace ; 

Behind a frowning Providence, 

He hides a smiling face.” 

were the beautiful words repeated by his mother. 

“Well, mother, we have been praying for years that 
we might be delivered from this thraldom of debt to 
Blackfoot, but it seems we are no nearer out of his 
clutches than we were years ago. In fact, we are more 
than three years nearer the time when we shall be com- 


146 


CADDO; OR, 


pelled to give up our home and farm to this grasping 
miser, even if we are able to keep the interest paid at 
maturity for that length of time, and I am almost begin- 
ning to hate him.” 

“George, the Psalmist says, ‘Fret not thyself be- 
cause of evil doers, neither be thou envious against the 
workers of iniquity, for they shall be cut down like the 
grass, and wither as the green herb.’ And it now 
appears that some of Dr. Blackfoot’s troubles are com- 
ing home to him, for he has recently lost eight thousand 
dollars in some way, through his reckless son-in-law, we 
are told.” 

“Yes, mother, but that doesn’t amount to much for 
him. He can lose all of that, and his wealth be less 
affected than ours would be by the loss of fifty dollars. 
Besides, it will only make him all the more oppressive 
towards the poor until he regains it. Then, what hope 
is there for us in that direction any way? For if he 
should lose everything, that would not pay off our debt, 
and as it will be impossible for us to clear five thousand 
dollars beside our interest, taxes, and other living 
expenses, in the next three years, from the products of 
the farm, I have no hope but that we shall soon be 
homeless and almost friendless.” 

“Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell 
in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 

“I have been young, and now am old, yet never 
have I seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging 
bread,” were the next texts quoted from God’s Word by 
his mother. 

“I believe you have a text for almost everything, 
mother, and your simple faith and confiding trust in 
God inspires me to more earnest, noble deeds for your 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


147 


sake. Oh, if Nora could only be brought to see God’s 
hand in everything as you do, and could be made to see 
merit in something else beside money, I should have 
everything to live for.” 

‘ * Commit thy way unto the Lord : trust also in Him ; 
and He shall bring it to pass. 

“ Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give 
thee the desires of thine heart.’ Could you ask for fuller 
or richer promises, George?” 

“ God bless you, mother, you have shown me a rift in 
the dark cloud, that for weeks has hung over me. I 
do sincerely thank God for these glorious promises that 
you have quoted for me from His blessed Word. I have 
read them many times before, but never until they were 
spoken by your dear lips to me, had I comprehended 
their deep meaning ; and though Nora may be a Black- 
foot, yet God’s grace can make her as pure and true, as 
she is beautiful, and I shall never cease to ask this boon 
from His hand.” 

“I do not wish to mislead you, George,” said his 
mother, for 

“ It may not be my way, 

It may not be thy way, 

Yet in His own way 
The Lord will provide.” 

If we ask in faith, not forgetting to do our part, and 
then leave the result with God, He will bring all out for 
the best for us at last. This has been the experience of 
His trusting children in all ages, my son, and it would 
surely be displeasing to Him if you or I should doubt His 
loving care over us now, even though we may not be 
able to see how He will deliver us from the rapacity 


148 


CADDO ; OR, 


of those who would crush us and drive us from our 
beautiful home ; nor how the hearts of those who have 
been turned from us, may be brought nearer than ever 
to us again.” 

“ Dear mother, I believe you ; and now I can trust 
that God will, in His own time, give me the desires of 
my heart; for surely He would never let me love Nora 
so dearly, if she is never to be mine.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


149 


CHAPTER XXL 


THE DANCE THAT WAS TURNED INTO A SERVICE OF SONG. 

“ Hast thou asked of God a blessing, 

Which he seemeth to deny ; 

• Keep on asking, keep on praying 
He will answer by and by.” 



HAT the reader may more clearly understand 


X Nora’s position, we must go back to the day that 
she went into the recitation room where George was 
alone working on his difficult problem. She had for 
days hoped that he would speak first, so that she could 
have an excuse for violating her parents’ unreasonable 
command. But he was so sure she did not wish him to 
do so, that he determined on letting her make the first 
advance. He had also been much in the company of 
Maggie Warren in the meantime, as he wished to dis- 
guise his feelings by being unusually lively, and atten- 
tive to her whenever Nora was present. That afternoon 
he walked home with Miss Warren from school, while 
Nora and other girls of her class followed just behind 
them as they left the school yard, but neither he nor 
Maggie took any notice of Nora or the other girls on 
their way homeward. Maggie had long been an ad- 
mirer of George Hartley, but knowing Nora’s feelings 
toward him, and supposing they were fully reciprocated 
by young Hartley, she had not dared hope that she 
could ever become a successful rival of Nora Blackfoot. 


150 


CADDO; OR , 


Poor Nora ! the last avenue of approaching George 
now seemed to be closed, for there was no one except 
Maggie to whom she had ever confided the sacred feel- 
ings of her heart with reference to him, and now she 
was proving treacherous, and doing all in her power to 
win him from her, and possibly telling him every word 
she had ever spoken to her in confidence. 

“Oh!” sobbed she, as she buried her face in her 
pillow that night, “Oh! if I only had one friend to 
whom I could go for sympathy, and in whom I qpuld 
confidingly trust, it would not be so hard to bear. It 
seems that I have no father, no mother, no brother, no 
sister, nor even friend to whom I dare unburden my 
heart. I once thought George loved me, or at least 
respected me, but now I see he dislikes me ; but even 
if this is not the case, how am I ever to know what has 
caused him to treat me so coldly ? Oh ! for one true, 
sympathizing friend in whom I could fully trust.” 

Could George have looked into her heart that night 
and seen the heavy burden which this rich, yet poor girl, 
was compelled to bear all alone, with not even a friend , 
much less a sympathizing mother , to whom she dared 
go for consolation or advice, he would have considered 
his burden of poverty light indeed to bear. 

Although Nora had always been a good girl, and for 
the past two years a true Christian and consistent mem- 
ber of the Methodist church, yet in this, her darkest 
hour, she was so completely crushed, that she felt it 
would be impossible for even God to help her carry her 
heavy burden ; and many days and nights passed before 
light broke in upon her troubled soul. 

The very evening that George was pouring out his 
troubles to his noble sympathizing mother, Nora’s par- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


151 


ents were preparing for a dance in their parlor, having 
previously sent out invitations to some of the most 
boisterous young ladies and gentlemen in Caddo, as 
well as a few of the more refined, with a view to bring- 
ing back her wonted sprightly cheerfulness. 

“We are going to have a dance here to-morrow 
evening, Nora,” said her mother, “and we have invited 
the jolliest young ladies and gents in town to be here, 
and shall expect you to give us some of your liveliest 
music on the piano.” 

“You haven’t invited Maggie Warren, have you?” 
said Nora. 

“ Why do you ask that child ?” 

“ Because she is angry with me, and I do not wish to 
see her here.” 

‘ * Why, certainly, we invited her ; you were always 
such great friends we could not think of omitting her. 
Besides, the Warrens are the wealthiest family in town.” 

Nora’s cup of bitterness was now full to overflowing, 
and having no earthly friend to whom she could go for 
sympathy, she was driven to that all pitying Friend, 
who invites every troubled, heavy laden soul to come 
to Him for rest. So going to her room, she poured her 
sorrows into His sympathizing ear and there found 
sweet relief. 

The following evening when the young company be- 
gan gathering in for the dance, she seemed cheerful 
and much like her former self, giving each a cordial 
greeting. Her parents had spared no pains on her 
musical education, and she was recognized by all as far 
the finest pianist in Caddo. When she accompanied 
the instrument with her sweet, clear, bird-like voice, 
the strains seemed almost angelic. But her heart was. 


152 


CADDO; OR, 


not attuned to dancing music that evening, and when 
they called her to the piano, and asked for one of the 
^liveliest dancing tunes, she modestly declined, saying : 

“You will please excuse me for not playing that this 
evening, and I will give you another, which I think we 
shall all like better.” 

“Certainly,” said Eva Linton, one of the best 
dancers in Caddo. “Your selections are always the 
best,” and as Nora started to the piano, the cotillion be- 
gan forming on the floor for the dance. But never was 
a company of young gentlemen and ladies more com- 
pletely dumfounded, than when Nora’s clear, sweet 
voice accompanied her grand instrument with the pa- 
thetic hymn : 

“Jesus, I my cross have taken, 

All to leave and follow Thee ; 

Naked, poor, despised, forsaken, 

Thou from hence my all shalt be. 

“Perish every fond ambition, 

All I’ve sought, or hoped, or known ; 

Yet how rich is my condition, 

God and heaven are still my own.” 

Ella Kirby, a rather fast, rattling young girl, began 
to sneer and laugh, saying : 

“That tune might do for a Quaker or Methodist to 
dance, but I can’t quite get the step.” 

“Give us something [lively like ‘Old Hundred,”’ 
said Jim Burton, sneeringly, as he wished to make him- 
self very agreeable to Miss Kirby, and forgetting that 
no gentleman could be so rude while there as an invited 
guest. 

“ For shame, Burton, keep still. I never heard such 
sweet, plaintive music in my life,” said Rob Johnson, as 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


153 


he gave the signal for all to be seated ; and as he was 
considered rather a leader in good society, it took but 
a moment for his example to be followed by all the rest. 
Although Nora was fully conscious of the ridicule her 
course had provoked, yet not for a moment did she 
waver from her purpose to sing the hymn through ; and 
her clear, sweet, but wonderously plaintive voice con- 
tinued : 

“ Let the world despise and leave me, 

They have left my Savior too ; 

Human hearts and looks deceive me ; 

Thou art not, like them untrue. 

“And while Thou dost smile upon me, 

God of wisdom, love, and might, 

Foes may hate and friends may scorn me ; 

Show Thy face, and all is bright.” 

Nora's piano seemed to almost speak the beautiful 
words with her, and there was something so grand and 
touchingly pathetic in the voice of the singer, as she 
clearly articulated every syllable of this beautiful hymn, 
that other eyes were filled with tears beside those of 
Rob Johnson and Maggie Warren, who had been first 
on the floor for the dance, but who were the first to lead 
the company to their seats. Even Ella Kirby found 
use for her handkerchief ere the singer finished the 

closing stanzas : 

“ Man may trouble and despise me, 

’Twill but drive me to Thy breast ; 

Life with trials hard may press me, 

Heaven will bring me sweeter rest. 

“ Oh ! ’tis not in grief to harm me, 

While Thy love is left to me ; 

Oh ! ’twere not in joy to charm me, 

Were that joy unmixed with Thee.’ 


11 


154 


CADDO; OR , 


There was no dancing in Dr. Blackfoot’s parlor that 
night, for scarcely had the grand strain of song died 
away, before Rob Johnson called for another hymn that 
he had heard her sing once before. 

“Yes, certainly,” said Nora, “but as you all know 
that hymn, you will please join in with me, since it is 
so much nicer with all the parts carried. You’ll all 
help me, won’t you ?” 

Such an invitation from the lovely girl was not to be 
declined, and in a moment more the company that had 
met for the dance, were standing around the piano 
mingling their voices with her’s in singing the grand old 
hymn : 

“ What a friend we have in Jesus ; 

All our sins and griefs to bear ; 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer.” 

When this was finished, the hymn at the beginning 
of this chapter was called for, and then another and 
another, until more than an hour had been spent in 
singing choice, beautiful songs and hymns, after which 
another hour was spent in games, charades, etc., and 
when the company parted that night, they were unani- 
mous in declaring that it had been the happiest evening 
they had ever enjoyed at Dr. Blackfoot’s mansion. 

But that which did Nora more good than anything 
else, was the warm kiss that Maggie Warren gave her as 
she bade her good night on the veranda, and said : 

“ God bless you, Nora, I shall never forget this even- 
ing. Come and see me soon, won’t you ? I have so 
much that I now wish to talk with you about. I know 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


155 


I’m a real naughty, wicked girl ; but you surely will 
forgive me when you know how sorry I am.” 

“I have more to ask forgiveness for than you, 
Maggie,” said Nora, and again and again did their tear- 
wet cheeks press each other, in their goodnight parting 
embrace, while heaven witnessed the unspoken sealing 
of an abiding friendship between these two lovely girls, 
more binding than that of common sisterhood. 


156 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XXII. 

BANISHED FROM HOME AND FRIENDS. 

N ORA,” said Dr. Blackfoot, as his daughter re-en- 
tered the parlor after bidding Maggie Warren 
good-night on the veranda, “ Nora, this must be the 
last time we have such performances in our parlor as 
you have brought about this evening. It is a shameful 
disgrace to us, for any one passing along the street 
would think we had all turned shouting Methodists.” 

“Why, Papa, I think we all enjoyed ourselves 
splendidly, and I am sure I feel much happier than I 
should if we had turned the evening into such a carousal 
as we had here just before Belle was married. You 
know that more than one young man went home drunk 
that night, and even Ella Kirby made a spectacle of 
herself, she was so much intoxicated. But after we all 
began singing this evening she behaved like a lady.” 

“ All this has nothing to do with what I have to say 
to you, Nora, and I now give you fair warning, to let 
this be the last time you turn our house into a Methodist 
singing service. Do you understand me?” 

Nora knew better than to argue farther with her father 
when he was angry, so quietly answered, 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ And another point, Nora, that I wish settled now 

is this : You must stop going to that d d Methodist 

Church and Sunday-school. I see it is making a fool 
of you. You may go to theaters, balls and all other 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


157 


suitable places of entertainment for a young lady ot 
attend, as often as you like, but never again to that 
church and Sunday-school. The preacher and superin- 
tendent are no friends to us, nor to our business, and I 
don’t intend they shall make fools of my children.” 

“Papa,” sobbed Nora, almost overcome with emotion, 
“you know I have always tried to be an obedient girl, 
and to do all I could to please you and mamma. But 
when I joined the church, I took upon myself a solemn 
vow that I would be true to all requirements of a con- 
sistent Christian life. That vow, I dare not break ; and 
let the consequences to me be what they may, I cannot 
give up the church and Sunday-school, for, by so doing, 
I should deny and displease my Savior, and this I can 
not do, to please even you, papa.” 

Never before had Nora spoken so firmly in opposition 
to her father’s wishes, and he determined to crush the 
“ spirit of rebellion,” as he termed it, in his daughter at 
once, so he replied: 

“Nora, you shall give them up, or you shall leave 
here until you come to your senses. There is a board- 
ing school in New York where such girls as you can be 
managed, when they become too smart to be controlled 
at home.” 

For a moment Nora’s heart sank within her, as she 
felt that this was to be banishment from home and all 
she held most dear, and doubly so now that she knew 
Maggie was again her friend. But only for a moment 
did she waver in her purpose to be true to her vows, 
which she consciously felt were recorded in heaven. So 
turning to her father, who was sitting on the sofa beside 
her, and laying her hand lovingly on his shoulder, said : 

“Papa, you know I love you, and wish to do all I 


158 


CADDO; OR , 


can to please you, but when I remember that Jesus loved 
us all so well that he suffered the most shamefully cruel 
death for us, I cannot knowingly displease him; no, not 
even to please you, papa. So if you think best to send 
me away from home on this account, I shall go as cheer- 
fully as I can, without a murmur. But I very much 
prefer remaining at home if you will let me.” 

44 Then you refuse to comply with my wishes?” 

“I cannot break my vows, papa, even though you 
drive me from home for refusing.” 

4 * Then, Nora, your school days in Caddo are ended, 
and two weeks more will find you in the young ladies’ 
boarding school in Albany, New York, where you shall 
remain until you are willing to comply with my wishes.” 

“I think you had better comply now, Nora,” said 
her mother. “You will never find an easier time.” 

44 1 cannot, Mamma; please do not urge me further,” 
said Nora, as the tears coursed faster than ever down 
her lovely cheeks. 

The mother’s quick insight had detected Nora’s warm 
attachment for George Hartley, and as both she and her 
husband were determined to break off this attachment, 
if possible, they had previously agreed that sending her 
away to school would be the best plan for accomplishing 
their object. So on this occasion the matter was 
definitely settled that Nora should go within two weeks, 
many hundreds of miles from home to the Albany 
boarding school for girls. Nora’s feelings may be better 
imagined than described as she retired to her room that 
night. That she had been harshly dealt with by her 
parents she fully realized, yet not a feeling of anger or 
resentment did she harbor for a moment against them. 

A light from an upper window of the house of Mr. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


159 


Hartley, over on the hillside, could be plainly seen 
from her own window. Often before had she cast her 
eyes toward the light that shone from that window, as 
she knew that one dearer than life to her occupied that 
room; yet never before had she felt such a longing 
desire to know the thoughts of its occupant. 

“ Oh, if I only knew before I go so far away what his 
feelings are toward me,” sobbed she. “ If I could only 
know that he is not angry with me, and that he would 
sonetimes think_ kindly of me at least. I must see 
Maggie Warren to-morrow, and learn, if possible, from 
her why he treats me so coolly.” 

Just then the light was extinguished in George Hart- 
ley’s room. Nora turned away from the window and 
began singing in a low, sweet, plaintive voice, a part of 
one of the hymns she had sung with her friends that 
evening : 

“I bring my grief to Thee, 

The grief I cannot tell; 

No words shall needed be, 

Thou knowest all so well. 

I bring the sorrows laid on me, 

O, loving Savior! all to Thee.” 

From this her' thoughts were turned to her Bible, and 
opening to the 27th Psalm, she read : 

“ The Lord is my light and my salvation ; whom shall 
I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom 
shall I be afraid?” 

This whole Psalm was full of consolation to her, but 
the 4th, 5th, 8th and 10th verses were especially rich 
in new meaning and comfort that night ; and as she read 
the words, “When my father and my mother forsake 
me, then the Lord will take me up,” she felt that God 


160 


CADDO; OR , 


was indeed very near to her, and that his sustaining love 
was now more precious than ever before. So she then, 
on bended knee, renewed her vows to be true to her 
God, even though all earthly friends should forsake her. 
Then with a feeling that she had willingly, intelligently, 
and trustingly placed her hand practically in that of her 
loving Savior, to be led by Him through life, she arose 
from her knees with the sweet song of praise welling up 
from the depths of her soul : 

“ Here I give my all to Thee — 

Friends and time and earthly store; 

Soul and body Thine to be, 

Wholly Thine for evermore.” 

This hymn had a new meaning to her now, and while 
she sang the last three stanzas as she laid her head on 
her pillow, she realized the precious nearness of her 
Savior as never before. Soon she fell into a sweet 
sleep, from which she did not awaken until the morning 
song of the robin, in an apple tree near her window, 
reminded her that another day had dawned. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


161 


CHAPTER XXIII. 


TWO LOVELY GIRLS AND A PARTIAL REVELATION. 



ARLY the next afternoon Nora called on her 


J i friend, Miss Warren, who met her, as formerly, 

with a loving kiss, saying : 

“Oh, I am so glad you have come, Nora; Pve been 
thinking of you all day. But let’s go to the hammock 
under the apple tree, as I wish to be with you alone for 
a while.” 

This was readily agreed to, and the two lovely girls 
were soon seated in the hammock, where they were free 
from interruption. 

“Why have you staid away so long, Nora? I feared 
you were offended until you treated me so kindly last 
evening. Now please tell me all,” said Maggie, as she 
lovingly encircled her friend with her arm. 

“ Maggie, I love every one now,” said Nora; “and 
you more than any other girl in the world. But I have 
had much to trouble me of late; much that I could tell 
to no earthly friend. Papa and mamma decided last 
night to send me away to the young ladies’ boarding 
school in Albany, New York, and I would so much 
prefer to remain at home and go to school here.” 

“Send you away to Albany, New York, Nora! Pray 
why do they wish to send you so far away ? There are 
certainly plenty of good schools nearer home.” 

“You asked me to tell you all, Maggie, and as I now 
consider you one of my truest friends, I shall do so. 


162 


CADDO; OR , 


Papa and mamma dislike the whole Hartley family, 
chiefly because Mr. Hartley has so strongly opposed the 
liquor business. And as he is class leader and superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school, and frequently prays 
and exhorts earnestly on this subject, they think he is 
throwing his whole influence strongly against their 
interests. I think they also fear that there is danger of 
an attachment springing up between George and my- 
self, and they know we can meet at church and Sunday- 
school, although you know he scarcely ever even Zooks 
at me when we do meet. So last evening after you all 
left, papa forbade my singing or playing any more of 
our church hymns for company, and also said I must 
not go to church or Sunday-school any more. To this 
of course I could not agree. Then papa said that my 
school days in Caddo were ended, and that I should go 
to that girls’ school in New York. Maggie, this at first 
seemed more than I could bear, as it would be driving 
me off among strangers, hundreds of miles away from 
all that I love and hold most dear. Then I have no 
idea how long they will keep me there; possibly for 
years. You and George, as well as all the other boys 
and girls of our class, will doubtless be married or gone 
away when I am permitted to return, and you will then 
care but little for me. For a moment I was tempted to 
give up the church, the Sunday-school, and everything 
else good, and be as wild and reckless as Ella Kirby. 
But when I remembered what my loving Savior had 
suffered for me; how He was denied, cast out, and even 
spit upon, and then most cruelly murdered by the chosen 
people whom He had especially come to bless, I said : 
‘ Papa, I should deny my Saviour in complying with 
your request, and this I cannot do, let the consequences 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


163 


be what they may to me.’ But papa was determined 
on carrying his point, so I am to start in two weeks to 
Albany, to be away from Caddo and those I love most 
dearly, I know not how long. But, Maggie, I went to 
my room after it was settled that I should go, and there 
I found such sweet comfort, in reading the 27th Psalm, 
as I never before knew. It seemed to me that my dear 
Savior was in my room, and that I could lay my hand 
in his, with the fullest assurance that He would lead me 
all the way through life, and shield me from the dangers 
and pitfalls into which so many are led, who refuse His 
guiding hand.” 

“Oh, Nora,” said Maggie, “I wish I were half as good 
and true as you are to your convictions of duty. Nora, 
I’m a wicked, selfish girl. I knew your parents were 
talking of sending you away somewhere to school, and 
a week ago I almost hoped they would. I knew that 
George Hartley used to think more of you than any 
other girl in Caddo, but since this coldness between you 
has appeared, he has been quite friendly toward me. 
But when I asked him last evening if he was invited, 
with others, to your party, such a pained expression 
came over his countenance as I can never forget, as he 
replied : ‘ Maggie, yon know that such paupers as I, 
are never invited nor wanted there. Even Nora, who 
used to at least treat me kindly, scarcely deigns to look 
at me now, that she is a young lady and sees the vast 
difference in our social positions.’ * But, George,’ said 
I, ‘ you may be too hasty in your conclusions ; there 
may be other reasons for her coldness toward you.’ 
* No,’ said he, ‘ you can’t deceive me in that way. Girls 
nowadays care for nothing but wealth and display. I 
used to think Nora was an exception to this rule, but 


164 


CADDO; OR , 


my eyes are open now, and I have resolved never to 
marry any one. I shall bend my efforts to the utmost 
in fitting myself for an honorable profession, by which 
I can at least secure a competency in life, yet I have 
little hope of ever acquiring wealth. My uncle, George 
Wentworth, of Cincinnati, has offered me a clerkship in 
his large hardware store there, provided I can begin 
work with him next week. Although the salary is 
small, yet, as I am to board in his family, it will leave 
me a small surplus above expenses, and I have just 
written him that I should accept his offer. I have 
already begun the study of medicine, and as I shall not 
have to work of evenings, I shall have fully as much 
time for study as I have had here at home, and in a few 
months I shall be ready to take at least a part of the 
course of lectures, which my uncle says he will give me 
time to attend. Mrs. Dr. Truworthy has been very 
kind to me, and has loaned me several of her standard 
works, besides giving me much good advice and many 
valuable suggestions, which have helped me materially 
in my studies. She and my mother are two of the 
best women who ever lived, and if I ever make a 
success in life, I shall owe it to their motherly and 
Christian influence.’ ‘I have no doubt, George,’ said 
I, ‘but that you will make a grand success in life, even 
though you do lack the financial advantages of many 
young men. But as to your determination never to 
marry, fie! George,’ said I, ‘ that’s all nonsense. You 
will meet some pretty face in the city and be dead in 
love with her before you know it. Then the next thing 
we Caddo girls see in the city papers, will read like 
this : ‘ Married, at the elegant home of the bride’s 
parents, Dr. G. W. Hartley, to the beautiful and 
accomplished Miss Flora Silklace Golden.’ ” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


165 


“What did he say to that, Maggie?” asked Nora, 
who was a far more eager listener than Maggie supposed. 

“ He said I did not know what I was talking about. 
f No, Maggie,’ said he, ‘I shall never marry. I con- 
sider that the holiest and most sacred tie that is ever 
made on earth, and I could never enter into that relation 
with any girl, though she were beautiful and lovely as 
an angel, unless I could give her the undivided affec- 
tions of my heart, regardless of her wealth or social 
position ; neither would I then , without the most positive 
evidence, that she in return yielded her whole heart to 
me, not for the position in life I might be able to give 
her, but for myself alone. And as there are no girls now 
who take the view of marriage that I do; none who 
would enter it from the purest and most unselfish motives, 
I tell you candidly, Maggie Warren, I shall never marry.' 
1 George Hartley,’ I replied, ‘you are too sweeping in 
your judgment of our sex, if you really think there are 
no girls who have any higher motives in matrimony 
than you give us credit for. Tis true, there are too many 
who marry for wealth and position alone. But I know 
there are some girls, who, like yourself, consider this 
the holiest and most sacred earthly tie, and who would 
rather die than marry a man whom they did not de 
votedly love, and that too for himself and his own true 
manhood, regardless of the number of dollars or acres he 
might possess.’ ‘ You may think so, Maggie,’ said he, 
‘but I do not, and I have settled that point in my 
mind.’ These were his final words to me last evening 
before I started for your party.” 

“ Maggie, I said I would tell you all, but I have not 
yet done so. I supposed that you and George would 
sometime marry, and possibly long before I am per- 


166 


CADDO; OR, 


mitted to return from the New York boarding school. 
If you do, I shall pray that you may both be truly happy. 
But you will write me, Maggie, and tell me all about it, 
and when the wedding is to be, will you not ?” 

“Nora, thvt well never be. George Hartley either 
loves some one else, or he will never love any one well 
enough to marry, and I am sure that no motive except 
the purest and most devoted affection for the woman of 
his choice, would ever move him in that direction ; and 
further, I more than half believe you are the only girl 
he ever dreamed of marrying.” 

“Why do you think so, Maggie? Did he ever inti- 
mate to you that he cared anything for me?” 

“Not in words, Nora; but I have often noticed his 
eyes following you when he thought no one was con- 
scious of his looks or acts, and you know a girl’s eye is 
quick to read love’s language. If he were wealthy, you 
would find him a bold and persistent suitor, unless I 
have greatly missed my guess. But if he were thrice a 
millionaire, he would scorn to accept even your hand, if 
he were not also sure of your heart with it.” 

“Oh, Maggie,” said Nora, as the glad tears came in 
her eyes, “if I only knew that George cared half so 
much for me as I do for him, before I leave to be gone 
so long, I could be comparatively happy in my banish- 
ment. I do love him, and have loved him ever since 
he so boldly risked his life to save mine in that fearful 
runaway, and he has been constantly growing into my 
affections, until now he seems to be a part of my very 
being. But how am I to know what his feelings are 
toward me ? He never gives me a chance to speak to 
him, and he has never written a word to me; then if 
you should tell him what I have said to you he would 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


167 


despise me more than ever; so I shall extort this pledge 
from you as my truest friend, that you will never reveal 
one word of our conversation to him, or any one else, 
until I give you permission to do so. Will you promise 
me this, Maggie?” 

“ Certainly, Nora, I’ll promise anything you ask of 
me; but if I were you, I should drop him a friendly 
note at least before leaving, telling him where you are 
going, for I am sure he will give you a manly answer.” 

“ While it seems to me that this is hardly the proper 
thing for me to do, Maggie, as he surely would have 
given some token of his desire to be friendly with 
me, if such is the case, yet I cannot leave without hav- 
ing this matter definitely settled, as to whether he is 
angry with me or not. I shall therefore write, and will 
then tell you whether the answer is favorable or not,” 

As the girls were then called into the house by Mrs. 
Warren, nothing- further was said on the subject until 
they parted down at the front gate in the evening, when 
Nora asked Maggie to renew her promise to say nothing 
to any one about the matter they had been so intently 
discussing that afternoon. But having already referred 
to Mrs. Dr. Truworthy, and favors extended by her to 
young Hartley, we must introduce her to the reader 
before following Nora farther. 


168 


CADDO; OR, 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

A MODERN PHARISEE. 

C ADDO had several other doctors beside Dr. Black- 
foot, but we have no occasion for mentioning more 
than two of them at present — Dr. J. M. Buckwether 
and Dr. Mary F. Tru worthy. 

Dr. Buckwether had formerly been a Methodist 
preacher, but on account of irregular and disreputable 
conduct, which had been reported to the church by 
some of the prominent ladies of his charge, the Con- 
ference refused to give him an appointment, and he was 
thus thrown on his own resources for support. He was a 
college graduate, and an excellent scholar, his father 
having given him every advantage that money could 
procure. So, after attending a few courses of lectures 
at an eastern medical college, he began writing his name 
J. M. Buckwether, M. D., instead of D. D., and soon 
opened an office on Main street, with his name, followed 
by the M. D., in bright gilt letters on the door. 

Dr. Mary F. Truworthy was equally as well educated ; 
she, too, being not only a college graduate, but also a 
graduate in medicine from an eastern college of high 
repute. But she had been compelled to earn the money 
by teaching, to defray her expenses through college, 
as she had been left an orphan at ten years of age, with 
less than five hundred dollars inheritance ; and through 
the bad management of her gaurdian, she received but 
little benefit from this. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


169 


Drs. Buckwether and Blackfoot had been practicing 
several years in Caddo before Dr. Truworthy located 
there; and while the former M. D.’s were rivals in the 
general pratice of medicine, yet they were in perfect 
harmony in ridiculing Mrs. Dr. Truworthy, whenever 
and wherever they could get listeners, as “the petti- 
coat doctor,” or “the strong minded she doctor,” &c. 
Of this, however, she apparently took no notice, but 
went quietly along in a most lady-like manner, making 
friends of nearly all classes of people with whom she came 
in contact, and gradually worked into a large and 
lucrative practice. 

Both Dr. Buckwether and Dr. Truworthy were 
professors of religion, but the latter was much the more 
modest and quiet in her claims to Christian perfection. 
Often a poor widow or washerwoman’s heart did she 
gladden by making her bill extremely light for services 
rendered, and in many other really deserving cases, no 
charge at all was made, but on the contrary some pecu- 
niary aid given in such a modest, loving way, that many 
a “God bless you, Doctor,” from truly thankful hearts, 
was richer pay to her, than double the regular fee for 
her services could have been. But she was always firm 
in collecting the regular fee, if the patient was able to 
pay it. 

On the contrary, Dr. Buckwether was not only ex- 
orbitant in his charges, but also relentless in collections ; 
and if any distinction was shown between the rich and 
the poor, it was generally in favor of the former, as he 
fully believed in making friends of the “mammon of 
unrighteousness.” But he could pray the loudest and 
longest of any one in Caddo, and his prayers took in 
the widest possible range of territory and subjects, (ex- 

12 


170 


CADDO; OR, 


cepting only himself.) He prayed for the poor and op- 
pressed; for the sick and afflicted; the sinners that were 
out of the church; the benighted and idolatrous heathens 
in Africa, China, Hindostan, Australia, Corea, South 
America, Mexico, the South Sea Islands, the Islands of 
the Pacific, and Greenland, Iceland, and throughout the 
Arctic and Antarctic regions generally; and would then 
remind the Almighty that if there had been any subject, 
territory, island, country or object that he had overlooked 
or failed to mention in his prayer, he hoped the Lord 
would look after the matter and see that none of them 
were slighted, or words to that effect; and then rounded 
up by giving the Almighty a great deal of valuable in- 
formation about the great amount of sin that was going 
on in our own country, especially amongst the young 
and unconverted, but strangely enough, always forgetting 
to mention any sin in particular, or to include himself in 
the number of those who might need to ask pardon for 
sins committed, or return thanks for unnumbered bless- 
ings already received. He seemed to think that this 
was a good general purpose prayer, that took in so 
nearly every object and every locality that it would be 
considered first-class for any and all occasions, and he 
was always happy to be called on to deliver it. But it 
became rather monotonous in time to his hearers; so one 
day when he had been called on to close the services 
with a word of prayer, and had gone about half through 
this harangue to the Almighty, Josh Slathers, in deep 
disgust, took his hat and walked with heavy footfalls out 
of the church, and started home. He had only gone a 
few steps from the door, however, when he met Mr. 
Warren, who asked him if he was sick, or why he left 
church before it closed. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


171 


“Sick, Mr. Warren? I should say I am sick, and I 
think everybody else in the church is, except Doc. 
Buckwether. Why he’s a sawin’ off that same ole forty 
mile prayer of hissen that he’s spouted here more’n a 
hundred times, an’ he’s only got to Australia in it now ; 
an’ I was so cussid tired an’ hungry, I couldn’t stand it 
no longer, fer I kin go home an’ have my dinner et afore 
he’ll git that durned yarn ’at he calls a prayer, all rounded 
up an’ ready to tack on his amen. I tell you, Mr. Warren, 
the Lord’ll have to have a mighty good memory, ef he 
recollects so cussid long a prayer as that, enyhow.” 

“I fear you are rather irreverent, Mr. Slathers,” said 
Mr. Warren; “you should not speak so lightly of re- 
ligious matters.” 

“There may be a cussid sight of Buckwether religion 
in all that slosh he’s a gitten emptied outen him, but I 
think tha’de be a durned sight more Christianity in his 
tryin’ to help some uv the poor washerwomen he’s 
charged sich all-fired big prices fer doctorin’.” 

“But don’t you think Dr. Buckwether has any religion, 
Mr. Slathers?” 

“That’s jist what’s the matter with him, Mr. Warren ; 
he’s got too durned much religion , an’ not enough Chris- 
tianity mixed in it to color the water. Why, don’t you 
know, the ole hypocritical cuss tuck the widder Smith’s 
last cow, fer checkin’ three uv her children through to 
kingdom come, er what’s ’bout the same thing, a doc- 
torin’ ’em to death?” 

“Well, he says he saved the oldest child, Mr. Slathers ; 
and of course she would cheerfully make any sacrifice to 
have even one of her children saved.” 

‘ * Saved, the devil ! No he diden’t, Mr. Warren. That 
child never would take a durned drop uv his medicine, 


172 


CADDO; OR, 


an’ he was the sickest one of the pile to start on. Why, 
by J udas, man ! ef Doc. Buckwether had a tuck half 
the pizen stuff hisself that he sloshed down them three 
innercent little children, an’ a kept clean away from 'em, 
tha’d a bin one long grave over yander on the hill ’stid 
uv three short ones, I kalkilate.” 

“Yes, I know it did seem rather hard-hearted to take 
her last cow, Mr. Slathers; but perhaps the Doctor did 
the best he knew, under the circumstances, and felt 
justified in collecting his bill for services rendered." 

11 Justified!” said Slathers; “yes, I ’spose he did. 
He talks a cussid sight ’bout bein’ justified an’ sanctified, 
an’ says he ha’int bin mad nor committed no sin fer 
ten years; an’ to hear him talk, you’d think the pin 
feathers was a sproutin’ out on his shoulders, where his 
angel wings was a startin’ fer him to fly off to glory 
balleluyer with. But I kalkilate he’ll find the widder 
Smith’s cow a standin’ at Father Abraham’s gate ’bout 
the time he gits up there, with her head down an’ her 
tail up, ready to gin him a lift over into the alkali an’ 
brimstone country. But, listen! he’s jist a gittin’ to 
Greenland now in his prayer, an’ he’ll begin to draw 
the puckerin’ string an’ plaster on the amen in about 
seven or eight minnits; so I’ll be a goin’ er I’ll not git 
much uv my dinner et afore his prayer weights git run 
down.’’ 

The reader must not suppose that Dr. Buckwether was 
often called on to close the services with prayer. But 
he was one of the class mentioned of old, who loved to 
be heard for their much speaking, and was always on the 
alert for an opportunity to gratify this desire. 


CUPID HI THE GAS BELT. 


178 


CHAPTER XXV. 

AN ACCIDENT. — SIATHERS PREACHES A SERMON. 

A UNT Sally Bennett, as every one called her, was 
a worthy old widow lady who lived in the country 
two miles from Caddo. She was eighty years old, but 
very active ; much more so than many young ladies of 
one-fourth her age. She was a splendid horse-back rider, 
and rode in this way from her home to market, almost 
every week, with her butter and eggs. Just as she was 
turning a street corner in coming into town one day, a 
large dog jumped out at her horse and frightened it, 
causing it to jump suddenly sideways, so that she was 
thrown off backward, with her basket of eggs under her, 
and was so badly stunned that she was taken up for 
dead and carried into the nearest house. 

Dr. Truworthy was called in, and after a few mo- 
ments of careful examination, became satisfied that life 
was not extinct, but advised having some other doctor 
called for consultation. 

As it so happened that all of the other physicians, 
except Dr. Buckwether, were at that time out of town, 
Mr. Johnson, who had helped to carry the injured 
woman in from the street, was asked if he would go for 
Dr. Buckwether. 

“Certainly,” said he, “but I very much doubt the 
propriety of calling him in her case, as I know Aunt 
Sally would not have him about her if she knew what 
she was doing.” 


174 


CADDO; OR, 


But he was soon in Dr. Buckwether’s office, with the 
summon for his immediate attendance in consultation 
with Dr. Truworthy, in the case of Mrs. Bennett. 

“I should be glad to lend my services in the case, 
Mr. Johnson, if I could consistently do so. But ac- 
cording to the code of medical ethics, I could not, 
while that petticoat doctor has anything to do with the 
case. If you will unconditionally dismiss her, I will 
cheerfully take charge of the case; or I will serve in 
consultation with any gentleman doctor of my school .” 

“But, Doctor,” said Mr. Johnson, “there is no time 
to lose in such a case as this ; and it seems to me you 
are permitting the technicalities of your code to influence 
you too far, when it may result in the loss of life.” 

“Not at all, Mr. Johnson; the dignity of our profes- 
sion demands it. I will, however, in this case . , go to the 
house where the wounded lady is, with the express 
understanding that Mrs. Truworthy retire from the sick 
room until I can examine the case.” 

“Very well, Doctor, I will go back and see if this 
arrangement will be satisfactory; and if so, will return and 
let you know.” 

The case still seemed so grave, that Dr. Truworthy 
was not willing to assume all the responsibility of the 
consequences which might follow, as she feared there 
was serious internal injury; so she agreed to leave the 
room long enough for this dignified (?) M. D. to examine 
the sufferer, as she now seemed to be regaining con- 
sciousness. Accordingly, Dr. Buckwether was again 
notified, and he called with his medicine case, and after 
spending some time in examining the still partially un- 
conscious sufferer, was unable to discover what, or where 
the trouble was, but as he thought soviething must be done 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


175 


he called for a spoon and gave her a large dose of castor 
oil, and then left, with instructions to administer another 
dose of the same cathartic if she was not decidedly better 
within an hour. As Aunt Sally had always been an 
extremely healthy woman, and prided herself on the 
fact that she had never taken a dose of medicine in her 
life, the results may be better imagined than described; 
for it was soon found that she had been severely stun- 
ned by her fall, but not seriously injured in any way. 
Hence her wrath knew no bounds when she learned 
what the Doctor had given her. 

The next evening being Saturday, quite a number of 
the citizens of Caddo, and vicinity, called at the post- 
office to discuss the news and get their mail, as was 
their custom. Dr. Buckwether, Tom Elliot, Fin Min- 
cer, and Josh Slathers, were generally conspicuous in 
these Saturday evening post-office discussions; and of late 
an unusual interest was taken in these meetings, as this 
was the year of the presidential campaign, and the town 
was pretty evenly divided between the two dominant 
parties. Buckwether, Elliott and Mincer boasted of 
being Democrats, while Slathers was an ardent Republi- 
can. The Doctor was lecturing a crowd in the post-office 
on the sin of profanity, when Elliott and Slathers arrived. 

The latter made use of the following expression as he 
and Tom entered the office : 

“ I tell you, Tom, he ain’t fittin to be president, an’ 
ef you ever git sich a durned man elected, he’ll make 
the devil ashamed uv hisself ’afore his term is half out.” 

“Young man,” ejaculated the pious (?) Doctor, “did 
I not hear you taking the name of your Lord in vain ? ” 

“No, sir, Doc. He may be your Lord, an’ I aint 


176 


CADDO; OR , 


surprised that you stan’ up fer him. But what uv it, 
anyhow ? ” 

“ I have been called to preach the gospel, Mr. Slath- 
ers, and when I hear such disrespectful language used, 
I feel called upon to rebuke the guilty party.” 

“The devil you do! Who called you to preach the 
gospel ? ” 

“ I recognize the call as coming from on high, and I 
must be faithful to my calling.” 

“Now, look here, you ole hypocritical rooster,” said 
Slathers, “ I’ve got a short sarmon to preach to you. I 
may not git my tex jist as it is in the book, but I guess 
you’ll ketch on to what I mean. The trouble the tex 
tells about tuck place over in the ole country. A feller 
’at lived in Jerusalem, got skeered an’ thought all the 
Jerusalem banks was a goin’ to bust; so he ups an’ 
checks all his money outen ’em, and starts over to 
Jericho to boom that town by investin’ all his money in 
corner lots. But afore he got half way to Jericho, a 
lot uv durned cut-throats come outen the bresh an’ stood 
him up an’ robbed him uv every nickel he had, an’ tuck 
the heft uv his clothes, an’ then arter they’d ’bout killed 
him, sneaked off with their swag an’ left him thar to die. 
But bimeby a ole hypocritical sky-pilot come along an’ 
found the poor man a layin’ thar a bleedin’ an’ half dead, 
an’ he knowed durned well that poor feller would die if 
suthin’ wusn’t done fer him. But he jest looked at him 
a minnit er so, and then went off an’ left him to die 
alone, sayin’ : ‘ I should be glad to lend my sarvices in 
this case, but he don’t belong to my church ; an’ then 
the dignity uv my office as sky-pilot ferbids that I should 
do anything fer him.’ Purty soon after Mr. Sky-pilot 
left him, Mr. Ananias Levite come along, an’ he went 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


177 


an 5 sniffled at the wounded, naked an’ half dead man a 
minnit or two, an’ then said : ‘ Good enough fer him. 
He’d no business to go an’ check all his money outen 
the Jerusalem banks, an’ take it away to boom Jericho. 
I should be glad to lend my sarvices in this case, but I 
see he’s got nothin’ now to pay my bill ef I should. 
Besides, the dignity uv my perfession will not allow it ; 
so I’ll let him die. An’ seein’ as I’ve got to lead the 
Jerusalem prair-meetin’ to-night, I must be skippin’ 
along.’ But jist arter Mr. Levite left him, a ole farmer, 
with a heart in him a durned sight bigger ’an both uv 
these hypocrites’ livers, come ridin’ along, a whistlin’ 
Yankee-Doodle, but as soon as he got in sight uv the 
wounded, bleedin’ man, he shet up his whistlin’ an’ went 
straight to him, an’ got down ofen his hoss an’ lifted 
the poor feller up, and gin him a little swig uv brandy, 
an’ said : ‘ Poor cuss, you’re in a devil uv a fix, an’ 

suthin’s got to be done fer you, er you’ll have to pass 
in your checks afore mornin’. Here, put on my over- 
coat, er you’ll freeze to death this cold evenin’.’ ‘Oh, 
no,’ says the revived but still weak an’ bleedin’ man, 
‘ I’m not fitten to put on your nice beaver coat; I’ll git 
it all bloody.’ * Durn the blood,’ said the kind hearted 
man, ‘who keers for that? Put it on, I tell ye, an’ let 
me help you on my hoss, fer you can’t walk, an’ you’ll 
kick the bucket afore mornin’ ef you stay here, sure as 
shootin’.’ So he got him on his hoss an’ tuck him to a 
fust-class hotel an’ kep him thar, an’ footed all the bills 
’till the poor feller got well enough to hustle fer hisself.” 

“Well, well, Mr. Slathers,” said the Doctor, in the 
pause following the close of the speaker’s remarks, “you 
have given us quite a discourse; but where is your 
application ?” 


178 


CADDO; OR , 


“Doc. Buckwether,” said Slathers, “did anyone 
ever call on you to go an- see a poor woman who was 
thro wed from her hoss, an’ tuck up fer dead?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“ An’ didn’t you refuse to lift a durned finger to help 
her, unless they’d insult the nicest an’ best doctor in 
town, by astin’ her to leave the bedside an’ room uv 
the sufferer afore you’d go, er do a cussid thing fer 
her ?” 

“ I merely carried out the rules of our school of phy- 
sicians, sir.” 

“ Durn your rules, Doc. Do they require you to let 
a poor, crippled woman die, rather ’en to lift a finger to 
give ’em any help, ef some good angel was a doin’ all 
she could to give relief to the sufferer ’till you could git 
thar? Besides that, Doc., do you s’pose eny one man 
er woman knows it all ?” 

“It is not to be supposed, Mr. Slathers, that any 
woman can master the deep science of medicine. More- 
over, it would not be professional for us to countenance 
her as a physician , by meeting with her in consultation, 
as it would lower the dignity of our honored profession 
to do so.” 

‘ ‘ The devil it would ! As to masterin’ the deep science 
uv medicine, all I’ve got to say is, that Dr. Truworthy, 
er eny other sensible woman, knows a durned sight 
better ’n to give a cussid big dose uv castor ile to a 
woman jist ’cause she was throwed from a hoss an’ 
stunned half to death.” 

“Three cheers for parson Slathers,” shouted Jim 
Bennett, a nephew of Aunt Sally. “He’s preached us 
the most practical sermon from that text we’ve had in 
ten years. Hip! hip! hip! hurrah!” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


179 


And with the exception of Fin Mincer, Tom Elliott, 
and a few others who were Buckwether’s friends, the 
cheers were given with a will ; for while Slathers was 
rough and uncouth in his manners and language, yet 
his heart was nearly always in the right place, and he 
was so bold in advocating what he thought to be right, 
that those who disagreed with him respected his candor 
and honesty, and evil doers had a wholesome fear of 
offending him. 

As the Doctor walked hurriedly out, followed by 
Mincer and Elliott, he turned back, and in angry tones 
said : 

“Young men, beware! Such sacriligious conduct 
will surely be visited with a judgment from on high. 1 
warn you to flee from the wrath to come.'’ 

“The same to you, Doc.,” said Slathers, as the com- 
pany filed out of the post-office and separated for their 
homes. 


180 


CADDO; OR, 


1 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

THE INTERCEPTED LETTER. 

N ORA went tripping homeward from Mr. Warren’s 
with a lighter heart than she had known for weeks. 
“Can it be possible,” thought she, “that George 
really does care for me ? Well, t I shall at least drop 
him a note, as Maggie suggests, before I leave Caddo.” 

It was eleven o’clock that night before the light ceased 
to shine from Nora’s window. She first addressed an 
envelope to her classmate, writing his name 1 1 George 
W. Hartley, Esq.” This looked rather too cold and 
formal, so she laid it aside and addressed another — 
“George Hartley, Caddo.” This suited her better. 
She then wrote half a dozen different letters to him, but 
none of them suited her. Five of them were too ex- 
pressive of tender sentiment, she thought, for the first 
letter she had ever written to him, and one was too cold 
and chilling ; so they were all laid aside, and she began 
the seventh, which she afterward decided to send, and 
it ran as follows : 

“George Hartley, City. 

Esteemed Classmate : — As I am going away to a select 
school for young ladies in Albany, New York, soon, I 
am going to ask all of my classmates here to write me 
often, for I shall be lonely, so far away amongst 
strangers; and although you have not seemed very 
friendly of late, yet I hope you will kindly drop me a 
line occasionally, as any word from an old schoolmate 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


181 


will be a welcome message to me. I should much 
prefer remaining at home, but pa and ma say I need a 
higher and more refined training than I can get here in 
Caddo, so it seems that I am given no choice in the 
matter. They say I shall have to remain away for 
two years, and possibly longer, so fearing that my old 
classmates here will all forget me, unless letters should 
occasionally pass between us, you will pardon me for 
asking you to divide the burden of the correspondence 
with other members of our class. 

Wishing you the best of success in life, and that you 
may not forget your old friends when you begin writing 
M. D. after your name, I am, 

Your friend and classmate, 

Nora C. Blackfoot. 

After sealing this in the second envelope she had 
addressed, she dropped it into the drawer of her dress- 
ing case, and turning the key, put the latter in her 
pocket. While she had been writing, however, the first 
envelope, with the first letter she had written, dropped 
down on the skirt of her dress, and when she arose to 
put away her writing material they slipped off under the 
table and were unnoticed. She gathered up, as she 
supposed, all of the discarded writing, and wadding it 
up into a little ball, threw it into the stove, in which 
she saw there was still enough fire to consume it. Soon 
she was sweetly dreaming of the one to whom she had 
written, while her head was half buried in the downy 
pillow on which she slept, until late the next morning, 
when awakened by her mischievous sister, Kate, who 
had been sent to call her to breakfast. When Kate 
entered Nora’s room, she saw a corner of the written 
sheet extending from under the table, and taking it up, 


182 


CADDO; OK , 


read Nora’s first letter to George. She folded it up and 
put it in the envelope, and then awakening Nora, held 
up the letter before her and said : 

“ I’ve read every word of your love letter to George 
Hartley, and I’m going to keep it, ha, ha, ha, so get it 
if you can,” and then darted down to the dining room 
before Nora could take the first step to prevent her. 

Kate was laughing so heartily when she entered the 
dining room that her father said : 

“What on earth amuses you so, Kate? You come 
in the room like a whirlwind.” 

“I thought Nora was going to follow me clear into 
the dining room in her nightclothes,” said the laughing 
child. ‘ ‘ She’s just hopping mad ’cause I got her letter. ” 

“Her letter, child ! What letter?” 

‘ ‘ Why one she has been writing to George Hartley ; 
here it is;” and with this she handed the letter to her 
father, who read it with an angry scowl, saying, as Nora 
entered the room : 

“ Girl, I’m ashamed of you ! I thought you had more 
sense than to write such a letter as this to any young 
man, and especially one so far beneath you in the social 
and financial scale. George Hartley shall never see 
this, for I shall burn it. And now I tell you, once for 
all , Nora, this thing of your writing letters, or having 
anything to do with such poor, worthless fellows must 
stop right here and noiv . I see we are not getting you 
away to school any too soon.” 

So saying, he went to the library and threw the letter 
in the grate, but put the envelope in the drawer of his 
desk and locked it, with a determination to see that no 
more letters passed between his daughter and young 
Hartley. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


183 


Nora, however, felt that she was not doing wrong in 
mailing the letter she had already written ; so that 
afternoon, while her father was called out of town to 
see a patient, she dropped it in the post office, and had 
the pleasure of seeing George call at the post office 
within a half hour afterward, while she and Maggie 
Warren were walking down the opposite side of the 
street. The next afternoon her father was called out of 
town again, and Kate was sent by her mother for the 
mail, but Nora met her at the gate, and seeing a drop 
letter for herself, seized it from her sister’s hand and ran 
to her room to read it. But mischievous Kate could 
not forbear teasing her sister by screaming after her so 
loudly that their mother distinctly heard the words : 

* ‘ A letter from George ! a letter from GeorgeJ a love 
letter from your beau,” and then went laughing through 
the hall to the library, where her mother was sitting, 
saying : “ I’ll bet Nora’s got a letter from George Hart- 
ley, ’cause her face was as red as fire when she took it.” 

“ I wonder how long this writing has been going 
on,” said Mrs. Blackfoot; “ but I guess there will be a 
way found to stop it soon. I shall not ask her to let me 
see the letter, but I shall take measures to see that it is 
not answered, or if it is, young Hartley will be none the 
wiser by it. The presumptuous -upstart !” 

“Mamma,” said Kate, “what have you and papa 
so much against young Hartley, as you call him ? I 
think he’s a nice, handsome fellow ; and then you know 
he saved Nora’s life once, when all the men just got out 
of the way and let the horse run.” 

“Oh, child, you don’t know anything about such 
things yet. You are not old enough. Besides, we have 


184 


CADDO; 0A\ 


heard about that runaway ’till we are tired and sick of 
it and I never wish to hear you mention it again.” 

“Well, why don’t you like him, mamma? What 
mean thing did he ever do ?” 

“Oh, I don’t know that he has ever done anything so 
mean, but he is Hen Hartley’s son, who is always med- 
dling with other people’s business, and the whole family 
are temperance fanatics.” 

“ What is a temperance fanatic, mamma? Tell me 
all the bad things they do.” 

‘ ‘ Oh, they say that men who sell whiskey and other 
such drinks as a beverage to people, even after they 
have paid their money to the government and town cor- 
poration for license, in order that they may be protected 
in an honorable and legitimate business, are injuring the 
community in which they live; and this you know is an 
insult to any honorable business man. Then they are 
all the time agitating the people on this drink question, 
which makes it very annoying to those engaged in the 
saloon business.” 

“Well, ma, does selling whiskey to men and getting 
them drunk do them any good ? I know you said Fin 
was drinking so much it would ruin or kill him, if he 
didn’t kill some one else and get shut up first. Then 
there are the Noble boys who get drunk every week 
now ; and pa says they have been in so many scrapes 
that it has taken nearly all of old Mr. Noble’s property 
to keep them out of the penitentiary. And Mrs. John- 
son says they used to have a fine farm, and never drank 
to amount to anything before our saloon and pool rooms 
were started here. So does not whiskey injure them, 
mamma?” 

“Oh, child, such people as those Noble’s never 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


185 


amount to anything. Besides, if they didn’t get their 
whiskey at our saloon, they would find plenty of it 
somewhere else, and their money may as well come to 
us as to any other liquor dealers.” 

“Yes, ma, but Rev. Marvin says there ought not to 
be any saloons tolerated in any town or city; and peo- 
ple who sell whiskey to make people drunk should be 
put in prison, just the same as if they sold poison without 
labeling it as such, to people who don’t know how 
dangerous it is.” 

“Ah, child, no one but a crank or fool would talk 
that way ; and if he preaches such stuff as that he’ll 
never get any more of our money.” 

“Well, ma, you know that whiskey does ruin, and 
even kill lots of people, and if no one was allowed to sell 
it to them to drink, wouldn’t such people be better off? 
Wouldn’t they work more for their families, and spend 
their money for nice clothes, and books, and houses, 
and furniture, that they now spend for whiskey to 
get drunk on ? And could not papa have a nice store 
with books and clothes and all these good things in it, 
to sell to these people who now spend all their money 
for whiskey? Wouldn’t you rather see Archie manag- 
ing that kind of a store than the old, dirty saloon, where 
so many ugly, ragged, swearing men go ?” 

“Why, Kate, I believe you are getting to be a little 
temperance crank yourself. Where did you ever hear 
so much temperance talk, child?” 

“ Miss Bentley tells us lots of good temperance stories 
in our Sunday-school class. Then our teacher at school 
says he hopes we will all grow up to be good, sober 
people, who can intelligently advocate the cause of 
temperance. He says the drink traffic is far the greatest 

13 


186 


CADDO; OR , 


enemy to our free institutions that we have to contend 
with. He says it will yet destroy our government, if 
the government fails to destroy it ; he says it is the 
strong ally of the anarchist, and the cause of more than 
two-thirds of all the crime in our country ; he says it 
endangers life and property, and increases pauperism, 
insanity and taxes, and ” 

“ Hush, child, you are getting your head filled with 
too much of this nonsense. I wish our teachers in the 
public schools at least, would attend to their own 
business. We can’t expect anything else from the 
preachers and Sunday-school cranks. But you are 
too large to go to Sunday-sqhool, Kate, and if I were 
you, I should not go there another time.” 

“Why, ma, there are lots of larger girls than I, who 
go to Sunday-school, and some women older than you 
go all the time.” 

“Well, I never went to any such school after I was 
ten years old, and I should think you would be ashamed 
to go now that you are almost large enough to wear long 
dresses. None but little children and a few old tem- 
perance cranks go to Sunday-school.” 

This put matters in a different light to Kate, and at 
times she felt it would be more respectable and stylish 
to absent herself from church and Sunday-school and 
stand up for the saloon side of the question, as she did 
not wish to be called a temperance crank. But not- 
withstanding the sordid efforts of the avaricious mother 
to choke the “ good seed of the kingdom,” which had 
been sown in the fertile soil of her child’s heart by her 
pastor and teachers, yet the seed thus sown was 
destined to bear some fruit, which was clearly apparent 
two years later. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


187 


While this conversation was going on in the library, 
Nora was reading over and over again, the short letter 
she had received from George, which ran as follows : 

Miss Nora : — Your very welcome invitation to me to 
consider myself one of your correspondents during your 
absence from Caddo is duly received, and I feel myself 
highly honored, that such as you should think me 
worthy of so much of your attention, which I assure 
you I shall most highly prize, and I shall take pleasure 
in answering all your letters promptly. I, too, shall 
leave Caddo next week, to be gone, I know not how 
long, but shall be much nearer my home and friends 
than you, in your far off eastern school. Hoping that 
I may still be honored with some place in your thoughts 
and that you will not so far neglect the most unworthy 
member of your class, as to forget your proposed cor- 
respondence with me, I am, 

Very respectfully, 

Your friend and classmate, 

G. W. Hartley.” 

George wrote her another short letter the next day, 
giving her his Cincinnati address, and asking her to 
write him there on her arrival in New York. This 
letter never reached her, but it fell into her father’s 
hands, who kept it for a purpose, as the reader will 
hereafter learn. 

Nora had good reasons for believing it would be best 
to postpone any further correspondence until both she 
and George were away from Caddo, as Kate told her, 
teasingly, that she “would get no more letters from her 
beau.” 

“ How do you know, Kate?” said Nora. 


188 


CADDO; OR, 


“Oh, I shan’t tell you, but .1 know you’ll never get 
another letter from George.” 

“ Ah, Kate, you don’t know anything about it.” 

“Yes, I do, for papa said you wouldn’t.” 

“Well, what else did he say, Kate?” 

“Why, he said something about your guns being 
spiked, and that if neither of you had any more 
judgment than to be writing such nonsense to each 
other, he should have old Henry to stop George, and 
he should stop your making such a fool of yourself.” 

The next week George Hartley was in Cincinnati 
with his uncle, George Wentworth, a wealthy hardware 
merchant, and the week following, Nora, who had been 
accompanied by her father, entered the large reception 
room of Miss North, in Albany, New York. 

This Miss North, a maiden lady of uncertain age, 
was matron and general manager of this select school 
for girls in that city. After talking over matters in 
general with her, Nora and her father were conducted 
around through the building, and a pleasant room was 
selected into which Nora’s trunks and other effects were 
placed. She was then introduced to several of the girls 
who were attending this school, and the further work of 
showing her, as a new pupil, around through the 
different departments of the building, was conducted by 
her new made acquaintances, while Dr. Black foot and 
Miss North repaired to the library for further consulta- 
tion. 

“ Miss North,” said the Doctor when the door was 
closed and they were alone, “I shall leave my daughter 
under your care on the following conditions. She 
seems to have taken a fancy to a worthless fellow, George 
Hartley, who is now in Cincinnati, but may be back in 


CUPID m THE GAS BELT. 


18U 


Caddo at any time. This Hartley has been trying to 
correspond with her, but I think I have about succeeded 
in breaking this up. He may, though, now that she is 
here under your care, attempt it again. If you can 
prevent any of his letters reaching her, all will yet be 
well, and I will leave her here ; but if not, I shall put 
her in some other school, as this foolish intimacy between 
them must and shall be stopped. So what do you think 
of it, Miss North ?” 

“ If you so direct, Doctor, I can have all of her mail 
pass through my hands, and any letter from the young 
man you speak of, can either be destroyed or returned. 
There are several other girls here under my care who 
have been left with me by their parents for similar 
reasons, and the postmaster is instructed to put all mail 
for this school in a special pouch, which we have pro- 
vided, and the carrier always brings it to my room, 
where I examine every letter before the mail is distrib- 
uted amongst the girls. So if you can get me a speci- 
men of his writing, it will greatly facilitate matters.” 

“That I have with me, Miss North, as I intercepted 
this, which I suppose is his last letter to her. I will 
leave this with you, as it also gives his Cincinnati 
address. Then here is an envelope in which Nora was 
sending a letter to him ; but it fortunately fell into my 
hands, and if it will in any way aid you in breaking up 
this foolish correspondence, 1 will also leave it with 
you.” 

“ I should like to have it also, Doctor, as it may yet 
be of use to me in some way.” 

So the letter and envelope were left with Miss North, 
who was a rather sour old maid, and she took a savage 
delight in throwing all possible obstructions in the way 


190 


CADDO; OR, 


of any matrimonial alliances of others. Notwithstand- 
ing this, she was so bland and deceitful toward the girls 
under her care, that but few of them suspected her of 
any dishonorable conduct in reference to their mail. 

An hour after the above conversation, Dr. Blackfoot 
kissed his daughter good-bye, saying : 

“Be a good girl, Nora, and write us often. I am 
sure you will find Miss North kind and attentive to all 
your wants, and I trust you will soon learn to so like her 
and your schoolmates here, that you will never think of 
homesickness. Good-bye.” 

Nora could not restrain her tears, for she was now 
left, a stranger amongst strangers. Her time was 
chiefly occupied that afternoon in adjusting things in 
her room. After arranging her books and writing 
material on the table, she opened her portfolio and took 
out George’s letter and read and re-read it. In her 
loneliness her thoughts ran back to those she dearly 
loved. 

“What are they all doing this afternoon,” thought 
she. ‘ ‘ And George, I wonder if he has thought of me 
since going to the city ? Perhaps I shall have a letter 
from him soon. But, no, I have not answered his 
letter yet, and, of course, he will expect an answer first 
with my new address. Well, I will write to him and 
Maggie this evening. But, no, I can’t write him, for I 
have not his street and number, and there may be a 
dozen George Hartleys in so large a city. I wonder 
why he did not give me these in his letter. Well, I can 
write to Maggie, any way, and if he fails to write soon, 
I shall have her to get his address for me. I can’t live 
this way, for his letters will be all that can make this 
great lonely place endurable to me. But perhaps these 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


191 


feelings are wrong, for God will be with me here just 
as he was in my own once lonely room at home.” So, 
reverently bowing her head in prayer, she asked the 
Compassionate One to pity her loneliness and sustain 
her through all the dark hours of trial that were before 
her. 

It was near the close of the following week when 
Nora received Maggie’s answer to her letter, giving 
George’s street and number in Cincinnati. She now 
lost no time in answering his first letter, saying : 

“ I should have answered your welcome letter sooner 
had I known just how to direct, so it would certainly 
reach you in so large a city. Oh, George, you cannot 
know how lonely I am here in this great city amongst 
strangers. Please write to me often, for your letters 
will be ever welcome reminders to me of old friends 
whom I have proved to be tried and true. Of course, 
they treat me kindly here, but then kind treatment from 
dear friends, whom we have long loved, seems more 
sacred and soul inspiring to a girl of my nature.” 

“There,” thought she, “I have almost confessed my 
love for him ; but how could I help it ? I do mean it, 
and something within seems to tell me it is safe to be 
true. I believe I shall let the letter go as it is ; for he 
has always been so kind, honorable and manly toward 
me, he surely will not now think unkindly of me here 
in my loneliness. Then if what Maggie has told me is 
true, he does care something for me. Oh, how a touch 
from his hand, or a look from his clear, dark eye, has 
often sent a thrill of pleasure through me as we have 
met on the playground at Caddo. Why is it that no 
other person ever affected me in this way ? It must be 
that Heaven intends us for each other. God grant that 


192 


CADDO; OK, 


it may yet be so. Well, I will finish the letter and may 
Heaven speed it on its way to him who is all the world 
to me, now that I am so far away from him and all 
others who are so dear to me.” 

She wrote several pages more, describing the scenery 
through the mountains and hills of Pennsylvania, and 
other things that had especially interested her in the 
journey, and then closed with a request that he direct 
his letters to her at Albany, in care of Miss North, 
matron of young ladies’ school. Then sealing it care- 
fully, took it down to the matron’s room, with a request 
that it be forwarded by first mail. 

‘ ‘Yes, dear,” said Miss North, “it shall go in the first 
mail.” And Nora returned to her room feeling sure of 
an answer from George within a week. 

“Ah, yes, romantic girl,” soliloquized Miss North, 
“ so you propose to carry on a correspondence with this 
worthless adventurer. Well, we shall see how success- 
ful you are in getting an answer to this. I shall not 
break the seal to see what you hive written, but will 
forward it, as I promised, by first mail, but to your father 
instead of this worthless fellow, and if he sees that it is a 
proper letter for you to write to this young man, he can 
forward it to him from Caddo ; so I shall be relieved of 
all responsibility in the matter and he will see that I am 
faithfully keeping my promise with him.” So saying, 
she wrote a short note to Dr. Black foot, and put it with 
Nora’s letter to George in a larger envelope and mailed 
to Nora’s father. 

Weeks passed, but they brought Nora no answer from 
George. She could not understand this, as she received 
letters every week from Caddo. 

“Can it be possible,” thought she, as the fourth week 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


193 


drew to a close and yet no answer, ‘ ‘ that my letter was 
too expressive of my feelings ? He is so truly honorable 
and manly that he will not, by writing promptly, 
encourage a hope in me that can never be realized. 
His ambition, doubtless, is to make for himself an 
honored name, and he does not intend to become 
entangled in any love affairs.” 

She half believed this was the reason she had not 
received his answer, but not feeling sure that such was 
the case, she wrote another short letter, reminding him 
of his promise to answer promptly, as he had promised. 
But this was forwarded by Miss North to Nora’s father 
instead of to George. In the meantime the latter had 
written her a long, friendly letter, giving an account of 
many things of interest that had transpired since he 
had been in the city, and closed by reminding her of 
her promise to write him often, which he was anxious 
she should do, as he had always taken an interest in her 
and should always be glad to read anything from her 
pen. 

This letter was received and opened by Miss North, 
as she wished to learn from it whether or not Dr. Black- 
foot had forwarded Nora’s letter to George. But now 
being satisfied that he had not, she wrote another short 
note and mailed it with George’s letter to Nora’s father, 
saying : 

‘ ‘ If he writes again, I shall put his letter in the envel- 
ope you left with me that Nora had addressed to George 
while in Caddo, if this meets with your approval, and 
he will then think that she does not care to correspond 
further with him.” 

The return mail brought a reply from the Doctor, 
stating that he was much pleased with the manner in 


194 


CADDO; OR, 


which she was conducting the scheme for breaking up, 
what he termed, “a most unfortunate love affair,” and 
that he should leave her to manage matters as she saw 
best. 

Three weeks more passed and not a line from George. 
So Nora resolved to write once more, saying: 

‘ ‘ If he does not answer this I shall never write him 
again. I wish I had not written quite as I did in the 
first letter I wrote from here. I fear I revealed too 
much of my heart to him and he has become disgusted 
with my gushing forwardness. I shall write cold enough 
this time and shall chide him for neglecting to keep his 
promise to answer all my letters promptly.” 

So she wrote him a cold, formal note, covering the 
above points, and closed by saying : 

“If you do not see fit to answer this soon, I shall 
suppose that my letters are distasteful to you and shall 
not annoy you further with any of my correspondence.” 

This, too, was soon read by her father, but never by 
her lover, who, like herself, had determined to write 
again, although he had never received an answer from 
any letter he had ever written her. In this he gently 
reminded her of her voluntary promise to correspond 
with him, saying he “feared she was forgetting all her 
old friends now that she was a Yorker, and in a high- 
toned school; but that if she had merely written to see 
how presumptuous he was in supposing that she really 
meant half she said in her invitation to him to become 
one of her correspondents, he could assure her that he 
did not wish to annoy her further, and if she desired all 
correspondence to cease, she would oblige him by re- 
turning this letter unanswered, and he should give her 
no further trouble.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


195 


“How fortunate,” said Miss North, “that Nora’s 
father brought me this envelope. I will return this 
letter to the young adventurer direct, in this envelope, 
as it is addressed in Nora’s own hand, and this will give 
a quietus to his ardor. But I shall omit his number and 
street as it will puzzle me a little to imitate her hand in 
writing even Cincinnati, and I shall risk its reaching 
him.” 

Five days after this letter was mailed to Nora it was 
back in Cincinnati, but was delivered to a distant rela- 
tive of George, who, unfortunately for the writer, had 
the same name. His cousin, however, delivered the 
letter to him on the day following, taunting him with 
jthe idea that he had been jilted by the fair and wealthy 
girl. 

There are times when really good men are tempted to 
use extremely rough language, and this was one of the 
few times that George Hartley ever yielded to this 
weakness. But as the reader can readily imagine what 
his thoughts and words were, we will not record them 
here, further than to say he was indignant that she had 
not left off the “ Esq.,” and taken time to put his street 
and number on the envelope, as he had given it plainly 
now in three different letters. But here we must leave 
George and Nora for the present. 


196 


CADDO ; OR , 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

THE LYCEUM, OR MINCER AS A LITERARY MAN. 

A MONG the numerous attractive features of Caddo, 
was a very interesting lyceum, which met semi- 
monthly in the high-school building. Not only the 
advanced students in school, but many of their parents, 
and older citizens, took part in these literary exercises, 
which consisted chiefly of declamations, essays, 
dialogues and discussions ; the latter taking in a wide 
range of subjects. Thomas Elliott was one of Caddo’s 
leading “ curb-stone ” politicians, and was always ready 
to discuss any qnestion. He, with Fin Mincer and Dr. 
Buckwether, were generally found on the same side of 
any political question that was up for discussion; while 
Judge Holland, Mr. Benton, and Mr. Hartley, being 
Republicans, were generally pitted against them. 

The question of placing the ballot in the hands of 
women, was suggested for discussion by Judge Holland, 
who had just returned from an extensive tour through 
Kansas, Wyoming and Washington Territories, where 
he had had an excellent opportunity of witnessing the 
influence of women in politics. Tom Elliott, as he was 
familiarly called by every one in Caddo, objected to 
discussing this question, saying it was one in which the 
people were not at all interested, and suggested per- 
petual motion as a more appropriate subject for debate 
at the next meeting. Fin Mincer thought that ‘ ‘ natuwal 
gas would be moah appwopwiate than either of the two 
pwoposed questions.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


197 


It was left to a vote of the society to decide which ques- 
tion should be taken up ; and as the ladies voted almost 
unanimously with Judge Holland, his question was ac- 
cepted as the one for the next discussion. 

The Judge then stated the question as he wished it 
discussed : 

“ Resolved, That the ballot in the hands of women is 
now a political necessity.” 

Volunteers were than called for to take the affirmative, 
when Judge Holland and Henry Hartley arose. 

“Are there no others?” said the president. “We 
usually have three on a side. Mr. Benton will you help 
out the affirmative on this question ? ” 

But lawyer Benton was a candidate for Congress, and 
fearing that the temperance question would be brought 
into the field of discussion, he declined to take any 
part, as he feared his remarks might be reported and 
used against him in the future. Volunteers for the 
negative were then called for, and Dr. Buckwether, 
Tom Elliott and Fin Mincer quickly responded. Judge 
Holland then arose and said : 

1 ‘Mr. President, as this is a question in which the 
ladies are, or should be, more deeply interested than we 
men, I call for a volunteer from among them to aid our 
side in this discussion.” 

“ Mrs. Elliott,” said the president, “ will you aid the 
affirmative ? ” 

The lady addressed was not only unusually intelligent 
and modest, but was also unfortunately the wife of Tom, 
who had taken the opposite side of the question. She 
had often heard her husband’s arguments, and knew 
about what his speech would be, so she timidly replied : 

“Mr. President, I am notin the habit of speaking 


198 


CADDO; OR, 


in public, but if I am permitted to reduce my thoughts 
to writing and read them at the next meeting, I shall 
accept the Judge’s invitation to stand up in defense of 
my sex.” 

Six minute speeches had been the rule, and each 
debater required to speak without manuscript; but 
unanimous consent was given Mrs. Elliott to write and 
read her speech. The miscellaneous business being 
next in order, which consisted chiefly of questions on 
scientific subjects, to be asked by some one previously 
appointed by the president, and to be answered by any 
one whom the questioner might designate, this exercise 
was now called for. 

Fin Mincer, 
who boasted of 
h i s scholarship 
as a high-school 
graduate, being 
the questioner 
for this evening, 
arose in a pomp- 
ous manner, and 
after carefully 
depositing his 
hat and cane on 
the president’s 
table, stepped 
forward on the 
platform, with 
one thumb in the 
arm-hole of his 
vest, and his nose glasses daintily held in the other hand, 
and then assuming an astounding attitude, said: 



CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


199 


“ Mistah Pwesident, the first question which I shall 
ask this evening, may not be considewed vewy scientific, 
but it will wequiah some knowledge of the meaning of 
words that are quite common in owah language to answer 
it. It is this : What is the meaning of Platonic love ? 
I will diwect this question to Mr. Joshua Slathers for an 
answer. Platonic love, sir ; what is it ? ” 

“I don’t know, sir,” said Slathers. “I never et 
any; but I’m death on turnips an’ ’possum.” 

“Then I will give you another question: The 
equatah, sir ; give its length, bweadth and thickness.” 

“ Well, sir, I figer it’s a purty good length, an’ ’bout 
as wide as a curry-comb, an’ as thick as a side uv pork.” 

“ Incowect again. I will now ask you my third and 
last question : What effect does the moon have upon 
the tide ? ” 

“That, sir, depends very much upon what it is that's 
tied. If it was one of Pat Murphy’s hound pups, it 
would make him howl like the devil.” 

The storm of laughter which followed these answers, 
was not very consoling to Fin, but order was soon re- 
stored and the society then adjourned to meet again in 
two weeks. 


200 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

A DEBATE ON THE SUFFRAGE QUESTION. 

T HE lecture room was crowded on the evening the 
suffrage question was to be discussed, as it was a 
subject in which not only the ladies, but the more 
intelligent men, were beginning to take a deep interest. 
It was decided that this debate should take precedence 
over all other exercises, even if there should not be time 
for the full programme that evening. Judge Holland 
opened the discussion in a short speech, saying : 

“ Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : — I have, 
until recently, been opposed to ladies taking any part 
in politics. I have feared it would make them un- 
womanly ; that they would neglect their homes and 
family duties; that they would become querulous and 
domineering, and would lose all those graceful, charm- 
ing ways, so much admired in our mothers, wives and 
sisters. But since taking an extensive tour through 
Kansas, Wyoming, and Washington Territories, and 
spending several weeks in each, with a view chiefly to 
secure argument from the field of its operations against 
even municipal suffrage for women, I am compelled, 
against my preconceived ideas on this question, to admit 
that the results in every instance, in country, villages, 
towns and cities have been attended with the most 
gratifying results to all good citizens, regardless of party. 
I talked with representative men and women everywhere, 
in my travels through Kansas and the Territories, where 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


201 


its effects have been longer and more fully tried, and 1 
found it so popular that it would be almost as easy and 
reasonable to disfranchise one-half the men in those 
localities, and expect satisfactory results to follow, as it 
would now be to take the ballot from their women. 

“ Mr. President, it is said that an ounce of experience 
is worth a ton of theory ; and I must say that, proud as 
I am of the noble and womanly women of our own State, 
I shall feel still more proud of them when they can stand 
side by side with us in the exercise of their God-given 
rights as our equals and helpers in everything that 
can aid in purifying our local, State and National politics, 
by which our country may be made better and our homes 
and free institutions safer. For these are the elevating 
and helpful influences which our far western sisters are 
grandly exerting to-day. 

“ Governor Hoyt, ( with every Governor of Wyoming 
for the past eighteen years), gives full suffrage for 
woman his unqualified endorsement. He says : “ This 
is no longer an experiment with us. We have tested its 
wisdom and it is here to stay. Under it we have better 
laws, better officers, better institutions, better morals, and 
a higher social condition in general, than could other- 
wise exist. Not one of the predicted evils, such as loss 
of native delicacy and disturbance of home relations, 
has followed in its train/’ 

“ Governor Warren says : “Our women consider 
much more carefully than our men, the characters of 
candidates, and political parties have found themselves 
obliged to nominate their best men in order to obtain 
the support of the women. Our women nearly all vote, 
and we have found this element in our politics purifying 
and highly beneficial.” 

14 


202 


CADDO; OR , 


‘ ‘ What higher tribute can be paid to any class of voters 
than that which has been given by every Governor of 
Wyoming to the women of that Territory ? As yet, they 
have only tried municipal suffrage for the ladies in 
Kansas, but the results have been so unexpectedly 
satisfactory, that it is thought by nearly all parties there, 
to be only a question of time when all political disabil- 
ities on account of sex will be removed. In Washing- 
ton Territory the sentiment is still stronger in favor of 
equal suffrage by the masses, than in Kansas; and 
excepting a few of the baser politicians and those engaged 
in the liquor traffic, there is practically no opposition to 
it in that Territory. But through the tracherous plot- 
ings of the latter classes, an adverse decision has recently 
been procured through their supreme court on the 
suffrage question. Yet this iniquitous decision has only 
intensified the determination of the better classes gener- 
ally, to throttle the monster evils that have instigated this 
move. And when we see the arrogance and insolent 
intermedling in our legislative affairs by those interested 
in the liquor traffic, we may well tremble for the future 
of our country, unless a more healthful and purifying 
element can speedily be brought into both our local and 
national politics. 

“When political caucuses are held in saloons and the 
liquor interests instead of the home interests are consulted 
as to the eligibility of candidates for positions of honor 
and important trusts, it is time for every lover of our 
country and her grand old flag to call loudly for every 
element of purity and patriotism that can possibly be 
brought to our aid in lifting our country and homes to 
a higher, grander and more permanent foundation than 
that upon which they now rest. Why is it that liquor 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


203 


leagues all over our country are unanimously passing 
resolutions in opposition to the ballot being placed in 
the hands of women ? Why is it that so many of our 
officers and candidates for office feel that a padlock is 
placed at the door of their lips so far as the saloon 
interest is concerned ? What mean those lawless and 
diabolical plottings of socialists and anarchists in all our 
large cities for the destruction of property, and life 
itself, but the legitimate outgrowth of our government- 
protected saloons? These evils, which should never 
have been allowed a foothold on American soil, have 
now become a threatening menace to our homes and 
free institutions, so strong and sweeping that, like the 
fires on our western prairies, all will be engulfed in one 
common ruin before them, unless we speedily bring all 
our moral forces to bear against them. And that the wife 
and mother should not be permitted to aid in defending 
her home and family against these monster and devas- 
tating evils, is as ridiculously absurd as that she should 
not be permitted to aid the husband and father in fight- 
ing back the prairie fires that would otherwise destroy 
the beautiful habitation that shelters herself and loved 
ones. And as well might her hands be tied in the fight 
against the one destroying enemy as the other, by failing 
to put into them the weapons with which she can make 
her efforts the most effective. 

“I dare say, Mr. President, there is not a man in this 
hall nor in our country to-night who would not bitterly 
protest against any administration that would undertake 
to rob him of his God-given right to make his wishes 
known and felt through the ballot box. And as one of 
the grand objects of Republican government is that the 
weak may be protected and defended against the arro- 


204 


CADDO; OR , 


gance of the strong, any argument that could apply in 
favor of putting the ballot in the hands of men for self- 
protection, must apply with added force in favor of 
equipping women with the same protective and defen- 
sive weapons. I know it is claimed that we men repre- 
sent the women and vote for them. But, Mr. President, 
this cannot be done, and not until we are willing for 
this right to be exercised for us by others, who cannot 
know and feel our wants as we do ourselves, can we 
with any show of consistency, claim so unreasonable a 
prerogative as that of voting for and attempting to repre- 
sent the purest and best half of humanity ; and nothing 
but ignorance or prejudice, outside of real selfishness, 
could actuate such a course. No, Mr. President, it is 
an insult to their intelligence and womanhood, as it 
would be to our common sense and manhood, to dele- 
gate such rights to any other parties to be exercised for 
us, and is entirely foreign to our Republican form of 
government, which provides for taxation and represen- 
tation to be inseparable. Then let us give our wives, 
mothers and daughters an equal chance with ourselves 
in the great battle of life. For 

“If a wife can live with her husband 
Three hundred and sixty-four days, 

And her character still be unsullied 
By his crooked political ways, 

Surely, voting with him just one minute 
On the three hundred and sixty-fifth, 

Will not change her womanly nature, 

Nor make her less “ Heaven’s best gift.” 

Schemers know that to hoodwink a woman, 

Is one of the difficult things; 

While she, with a right to the ballot, 

To our country the best aid would bring. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


205 


To suppress anarchy and treason, 

To stem ignorance, drinking and vice, 

We can always rely on the women 
To work in the cause with their might. 

The fact is, my brothers, we need her, 

And it’s no use now to deny it, 

For the people are earnestly thinking 
And fully determined to try it. 

Yes, brothers, we need and must have her, 

To aid in political fights; 

While we but ennoble our manhood 
By giving to her equal rights. 

Then haste the day of free ballot 
For men and for women alike ; 

As we trust her in all other matters, 

We can trust her to vote all right.” 

Dr. Buckwether then took the floor in opposition to 
female suffrage. 

“Mr. President,” said he, “all this twaddle about 
women being capable of exercising the elective franchise, 
or of being benefited by its use if we should be so 
foolish as to grant such unwarranted rights to them, is 
the sheerest nonsense. I stand here, Mr. President, to 
assert and champion the holy cause of women. I stand 
here to champion their cause against their having such 
burdensome responsibilities thrust upon them without 
their own sex having had an opportunity of giving an 
expression on the subject. I solemnly believe there 
never was an hour in the history of our country when it 
was in so great danger as it is now, since a few of our 
states and territories have already so wantonly ignored 
the constitution as to recognize the right of women to 
vote, and in some cases to hold offices of honor and 


206 


CADDO; OR , 


important trusts, thereby trampling this great charter of 
our liberties in the dust. For, Mr. President, nowhere 
in all the wide and ample provisions of our national 
constitution are the words female suffrage to be found. 
And if one state or territory may take such an unwar- 
ranted step as this, and still be recognized as a part of 
this great sisterhood, what is to hinder any or all other 
states from doing the same thing. 

1 ‘The Judge says nothing but ignorance or prejudice 
could actuate us in withholding the ballot from women. 
Ignorafice or prejudice ! Nothing of the kind. Do you 
know that there are more than half a million office 
holders in this great government of ours, many of whom 
would be but ciphers if women were allowed to vote 
and hold office. Why, Mr. President, look at the vast 
army of male tramps already out of any employment 
that is at all congenial to their taste. Can’t you see 
that this scheme would largely increase the number of 
this unfortunate class of our fellow citizens? For every 
woman you put into office some man will have to go 
out ; and there are already a thousand male tramps to 
one female. You can plainly see by this one fact that it 
is an easy matter for women to find congenial employ- 
ment, situated as they are, while men are everywhere 
being crowded out of the desirable situations in life. 

‘•This, sir, is a step fraught with danger to our Repub- 
lic, and I stand here to lift my voice of warning against it. 
It is a step which, once taken, can never be retraced ; 
for if we are ever so foolish as to give women the ballot, 
I defy the world to deprive them of this right of citi- 
zenship afterward. Once admit the equality of the 
sexes, then farewell peace forever. 

“ Our constitution, Mr. President, is broad and ample 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


207 


for all real needs of the government, and while it guar- 
antees protection to all men in the pursuits of life, liberty 
and happiness, it very wisely says nothing about women, 
for the very reason that we men are always expected to 
represent them and protect them as the weaker vessels. 
Besides this, there are too many voters already. This 
is a prerogative that should never have been granted to 
the masses of men even. Only doctors, lawyers, and 
clergymen should ever have been entrusted with such a 
dangerous power. The masses of men, and especially 
women , are too ignorant of the laws and needs of gov- 
ernment to exercise the elective franchise intelligently. 
This has been the opinion of the wisest men of Europe 
for centuries. But more than all this, Mr. President, 
would be the great degradation that woman herself 
would suffer with the ballot in her hand; for on this 
plane she would naturally forfeit all respect from us 
gentlemen. No, Mr. President, this is all of a piece 
with too much other sentimentality we have heard on 
this floor, and the very idea should be scouted by every 
logical mind, and especially by every believer in the 
Bible. For as woman led man astray, being first in the 
transgression, God said that man should rule over her. 
Dare you countermand God’s word ? Then, as women 
have not sufficient physical strength to enforce laws, 
they should not be permitted to help make them. If 
they vote, they must also fight for their country. But 
suppose we should foolishly give them the rights of citi- 
zenship, they would all vote just as their husbands tell 
them to, which would merely double the vote, but 
would not change the general result. But, Mr. Presi- 
dent, no decent woman wishes to, or would vote, if she 
had the opportunity. Why the very act would be de- 


208 


CADDO; OR , 


grading to any woman. And so we might go on for 
hours giving you the multifarious objections and dangers 
with which this wicked and ill-advised scheme is fraught. 
But as enough has already been said to convince any 
candid man of the dangers attending such a foolish step, 
what need I say more? I will mention one further 
point and close. There are millions of dollars invested 
in the brewing, distilling and saloon interests in our 
country, and chiefly by our citizens of foreign birth, 
which would be fearfully jeopardized with the ballot in 
the hands of women. These men give material aid to 
our party, and these enterprises give employment to 
thousands and tens of thousands of men. Their busi- 
ness is now amply protected by both state and national 
law. Would you, aye, dare you , by granting this dan- 
gerous liberty to ignorant and impracticable women 
endanger the downfall, aye more , the utter ruin of so vast 
an industry in our country? Would you thus wantonly 
and senselessly throw out of employment tens of thous- 
ands of our best laboring men, and thereby largely 
increase our already vast army of tramps, who are now 
out of any work that is at all congenial to them ? I tell 
you, Mr. President, such a dire calamity should be 
shunned with a holy horror by every believer in the 
Bible, as well as by every patriotic and law-abiding 
citizen. God forbid that we shall ever see the day 
when the dangerous , preposterous , and ridiculous idea of 
placing women on an equality with men in this country 
shall for a moment be tolerated.” 

Henry Hartley being next on the affirmative, arose 
and said : 

‘ ‘ Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : The time 
has long since gone by for intelligent men to ridicule 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


200 


the idea of giving our mothers, wives, sisters and 
daughters, an equal chance with ourselves in all the 
pursuits of life. If the declaration of American inde- 
pendence means anything, it means that all men are 
endowed by their Creator with the inalienable rights 
of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and none 
but fools would claim that this does not include women. 
The argument of our opponent, if such it can be called, 
is full of sophistry and danger. It is not only in direct 
violation of the golden rule, given by our Savior hirm 
self, but it is also contrary to the very principles of 
Republican self-government. A government of the 
people, and for the people, cannot mean a government 
by and for half the people only , and that the most 
vicious and criminal half. Any argument that could 
possibly be adduced in opposition to placing the ballot 
in the hands of women, would apply with equal if not 
added force against placing it in the hands of men. 
Moreover the very act of the mother country in at- 
tempting to enforce taxation upon Americans without 
granting them equal political power, was followed by a 
long and bloody war, and this is evidence enough 
to convince any sane and candid man that taxation 
without representation is a dangerous, as well unsound 
doctrine. Again, our wisest and most able states- 
men, jurists, poets, divines and philanthropists, have 
given their unqualified approval of placing the ballot in 
the hands of women ; among which are, Lincoln, Garfield, 
Seward, Sumner, Wade, Chief Justice Chase, Douglas, 
Longfellow, Whittier, Emerson, Kingsley, Maurice, 
Garrison, Phillips, Heber, Newton, Dr. J. F. Clark, 
Huxley, Spencer, Browning, Cable, and hundreds of 
others might be added to the long list of honored men, 


210 


CADDO; OR , 


who, after having given this matter deep and earnest 
thought, have advocated placing the ballot in the hands 
of woman, not only as an act of courtesy that is justly 
due her, but as a means of aiding us in elevating and 
purifying our local and national politics. 

“Our opponent says that woman would forfeit all 
respect from men, with the ballot in her hand. If he 
had carefully noted the strongest arguments from our 
wisest statesmen in reconstruction days, in favor of 
enfranchising the negro, he would long ago have learned 
that the very object of thus arming him with this mightiest 
weapon of freemen, was that he might be clothed with 
that power which would command respect , even from his 
former master. Is Dr. Buckwether, or any other human 
being, less respected because he is clothed with the power 
to speak, write or vote his sentiments freely and fearlessly? 
Is it degrading to him to be made a peer to any or all 
other law-abiding citizens in our country? The very 
fact that we do not permit aliens, Indians, criminals, 
and insane or idiotic men to vote, is ample proof that a 
stigma , and not an honor is accorded to disfranchised 
persons. Is it a crime to be a woman ? If not, why 
place the disabilities of a criminal upon her? The 
Doctor’s claim that none except those who can go into 
the army and fight for our country, should vote, proves 
too much if it proves anything, as this would disfranchise 
him and all other men too old to go into the army, and 
hundreds of thousands of other men who are younger but 
not physically able to stand the rigors of army life. 
Again, his argument that this burden should not be thrust 
upon women until they have had an opportunity for 
giving an expresion on the subject, is too ridiculous for 
notice, when every reading man knows they have not 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


211 


only been petitioning for generations past for this very 
privilege, but in places have voluntarily gone and listed 
their property for taxation, and paid to have their names 
registerd as voters, simply on the school question. That 
women would not vote if the privilege was granted them, 
has been fully disproved wherever the experiment has 
been tried. That this privilege would be a burden to 
them, is all nonsense, as no one is compelled to vote 
who does not wish to do so. That she would generally 
vote with her husband, (if she has one,) is doubtless 
true, as she generally belongs to the same church that 
he attends ; but that she would always do so, has not 
been proved anywhere that this has been tried. 

“Asa bachelor’s dwelling is soon cleaned, dusted 
and renovated generally, after he brings a wife into his 
home, so would our legislative halls be swept, garnish- 
ed, and perhaps even fumigated, when women are invi- 
ted to assist in sailing the great ship of state ; for it is a 
well known fact that many of our legislative bodies, and 
even Congress itself, frequently present more the appear- 
ance of disorderly mobs than that of dignified and 
honorable men, as many suppose them to be. When we 
have women legislators, sitting side by side with men in 
our legislative halls, men will conduct themselves in a 
decent and orderly manner there , as they do at church 
and all other assemblies where ladies are present. That 
the women of Wyoming have caused the voting precincts 
to be moved out of saloons and dirty workshops, and 
placed in clean, respectable rooms, which their hands 
have decorated with flowers, show that women have a 
refining and elevating influence wherever men recog- 
nize their worth. 

“ But why need we present any further argument on 


212 


CADDO ; OR, 


this subject ? Not only the right but the necessity of 
universal suffrage, regardless of sex, must be clearly 
apparent to every reading and thinking mind. As well 
may the steam-boat be expected to make good headway 
against the current, with only one side wheel, or the 
bird with one wing, to glide straight and gracefully 
through the air, as for men to expect the highest 
political good to be achieved unaided by the best half of 
humanity. I speak advisedly when I say the best half 
of humanity, for statistics show that more than two-thirds 
of all our church members are women , while more than 
four-fifths of all our criminals are men. Dr. Buckwether 
unwittingly admits the same thing, when he says 4 * there 
are already a thousand males, to one female tramp. He 
speaks of its being unwomanly to vote. If it is not un- 
womanly for the wife or mother to go out night after night, 
and search, even into dirty, crowded saloons, amongst 
drunken, brutish men, for her besotted husband or 
son, and guide his unsteady steps homeward through 
the dark night, surely it cannot be unwomanly for her to 
spend a small part of one or two days in the year in 
going with them to a decent place to vote. 

“No, Mr. President, the idea of denyiug to our 
mothers, wives and sisters all the rights we enjoy our- 
selves, is unmanly, and indefensible on any ground of 
argument that would not refute all self-government; for 
who can have a greater solicitude for the welfare and 
protection of her home and children against all enemies 
that could destroy it and them, than the mother ? Or 
who a greater care for the husband’s safety and honor 
than the wife ? No candid, thinking man can for a 
moment doubt the loyalty of the women of this country 
to our flag, and all this silly twaddle about the danger to 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


213 


the constitution is simply nonsense, of which even the 
opponents of this move themselves will be ashamed 
ere another decade shall pass.” 

Tom Elliott being next on the negative, came rushing 
to the platform, and said : 

“ Mr. President an’ feller citizens : While I most fully 
endorse all that Dr. Buckwether, my worthy colleague, 
has said, yet I propose to bore deeper an’ take broader 
grounds for my objections to this nefarious an ’ extremely 
dangerous scheme. I have sot hyur, Mr. President, 
listenin’ to remarks that are kalkilated to lower the 
respect of our feller citizens fer the sterner sex, ’till my 
blood has biled. The women give us trouble enough 
with the rights they already hev, an’ ef we bring ’em up 
on a level with ourselves there’ll be no livin’ with ’em in 
peace. You jes give up to a woman once, an’ you may 
always do so. Fer my part I do ez I please; I don’t 
’low no woman to lord it over me. Talk about bein’ 
nosed ’round by a woman, not much, fer Mr. Tom 
Elliott, now I tell ye. Our opponents talk ’bout the 
refinin’ influences uv women; fer my part I submit to 
no refinin’ er any other kind uv influences from the 
weaker sex.” 

“ Mr. President, ” said Josh Slathers, who was sitting 
in the back part of the hall, “ I want to ask the gentle- 
man a question.” 

“State the question,” said Elliott. 

“Don’t you think you would a been a nation sight 
better, smarter an’ decenter man ef ye had ?” 

“ As you are not one uv the speakers I shan’t pay no 
attention to yer insolent questions. As I wuz a sayin’, 
Mr. President, an’ feller citizens, ef eny man wants to 
put hisself down or % level with his wife an’ children, 


214 


CADDO; OR, 


an’ all govern one ’nother, uv course he has a right to 
do so ; but, sir, he has no right to drag me down, er 
expect me to degrade myself in eny sich a way. No, 
feller citizens, I think it is the duty uv every man to 
maintain the position which the Bible assigns him as the 
head er guv’ner uv his household.” 

“Right,” shouted Dr. Buckwether. “The Bible is 
clear on that point.” 

“It’s clear on another pint,” said Slathers. “What- 
soever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye 
even so unto them.” 

“True,” said Elliott, “but men ain’t women, an’ ef 
the Bible had intended to include women thar, the text 
would a said so. As I wuz a sayin’, feller citizens, 
women hev got too much liberty already, an’ I kin tell 
ye plainly why I’m opposed to their havin’ any more 
riglits than they already hev. In the fust place, they’d 
be everlastin’ly intermeddlin’ in politics, whar they 
hev no business. They’d be a gittin’ clear outen’ 
woman’s spear. They’d cause a mizerable sight of con- 
sternation in our party by their everlastin’ agitatin’ uv 
the temperance question. Agin, no woman with eny 
style about her, er that keers a cent fer her sex, would 
ever want to be a dabblin’ in politics. More’n this, 
women are too feeble minded to grasp the mighty ques- 
tions in politics what we men hev to meet an’ grapple 
with. They hain’t got sense enough to vote as the 
interests uv our party demand. An’ ef thar should now 
an’ then be one what wuz smart enough to vote, she’d 
be more’n likely to vote agin our party’s best intrust. 
No, feller citizens, they hed better be a lookin’ after the 
buttons on their husband’s and brother’s coats. Mr. 
President, we all on us knows what weak an’ silly little 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


215 


things women fret an’ worry about. My wife is always 
a worryin’ about our boys. She thinks our Will an’ 
Ned hain’t got no more sense than to go right to the 
devil by makin’ drunken fools uv theirselves. Why, I 
tell you, feller citizens, I wouldn’t give a continental fer 
a boy what couldn’t stand some temptation. They must 
lam to look out fer theirselves sometime, an’ ef they 
don’t begin when they are boys, why they’ll hev to larn 
it later on in life, ef they ever know it. No, feller citi- 
zens, sich little things as these don’t amount to nothin’. 
Why, it’s a matter uv vastly more importance that the 
high tariff uv our country should be looked after, than 
eny uv these little things women fret so much about. 

“Now, feller citizens, you all know I’m a candidate 
fer sheriff, an’ ef I’m elected it will not only enable me 
to pay off all my little bills around, but it will make me 
independent beside. Uv course, I shall hev to work 
fer the floatin’ vote, an’ I shall get the largest part uv it. 
In fact, I could never be elected without it, as my oppo- 
nent is a ruther strong an’ pop’lar man, an’ nothin’ kin be 
said agin him exceptin’ he is a ignorant Yankee an’ down 
on all the saloon boys, an’ this last you know is an un- 
pardonable sin fer a politician. I don’t like to hev to 
set ’em up to the boys so often as I’ve hed to lately, but 
then I must look out fer my bread an’ butter.” 

“Mr. President,” said Judge Holland, “I wish to 
call the gentleman’s attention to the fact that he is not 
talking on the question under discussion.” 

“The gentleman will confine himself to the suffrage 
question,” said the president. 

“Well, Mr. President,” said Elliott, “ our opponents 
have said a good deal about temperance an’ sich. Uv 
course, I’m a temperance man, an’ I’m down on all 


216 


CADDO; OR , 


drunkenness an’ all that; but, then, I don’t believe in 
gittin’ cranky on the subject, fer this would be very 
injudicious fer a politician. I know our boys take their 
drinks occasionally, but I don’t see no danger uv their 
goin’ too fur. You know boys must sow their wild 
oats sometime, an’ ‘a little whiskey now an’ then, is 
relished by the best uv men,’ as the poet says, an’ it ain’t 
goin’ to do ’em no harm, ef they do get a little funny at 
times. No, ladies, you should think more uv the 
danger uv a high tariff. Teach the boys to hate tariff 
an’ treason. Women don’t think enough about sich 
things. Only yisterday I heard some women at John- 
son’s store jist a goin’ on because we let a few drunken 
anarchists vote at the last election. They jist let their 
angry passions rise ’till they couldn’t talk fast enough. 
They said we knew well enough that not one of those 
ignorant, drunken foreigners could even read the names 
of the men they voted for. Well, s’posen they couldn’t, 
their votes counted jist the same fer our party as ef they 
had all been college graduates; an’ ef we hadn’t a voted 
them an’ the paupers an’ feeble minded fellers from over 
at the county poor farm, we should a been left, fer the 
vote wuz nation close as it wuz, an’ we hed to bring out 
the full strength uv the party. Then after the votes wuz 
all in it took a mighty close an’ peculiar kind uv countin' 
to bring our men out ahead. Sich work as this, ladies, 
you are not qualified fer, an’ you never would be able 
to carry out the schemes so necessary fer the success uv 
perlitical parties. No, feller citizens, women’s place is 
at home. God intended them fer mothers an’ home- 
keepers. In the language uv the poet I shall close my 
remarks by sayin’ : 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


217 


“ She should be the dingin’ vine, 

An’ man the sturdy oak.” 

Mrs. Elliott then spoke on the affirmative as follows : 

“Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: — Much as I 
dislike personal notoriety, or anything that would appear 
forward or unwomanly, yet I cannot, in honor to the 
memory of such women as gave to the world a Savior, 
to our country a Washington, a Lincoln, a Garfield, a 
Whittier, a Lucretia Mott, a Miss Anthony, a Lucy 
Stone, a Clara Barton, and hundreds of others, whose 
pure, sweet lives have made the world better ; I say I 
should dishonor such women by keeping silent when 
my sex is so grossly misrepresented as it has been here 
to-night. We admit that God intended us for mothers 
and homekeepers. Why else did He implant this great 
mother love in our hearts, and this love of home in our 
very natures, that we so much love to adorn for your 
pleasure and comfort, if He did not intend that we should 
be companions and helpmeets to you, whom he intended 
should be fathers and home providers ? If companions in 
life’s work, then why withhold from us the weapons for 
the defense of our homes and our loved ones, which you 
so highly prize? Is it ennobling to your manhood 
to look down on us whom you are pleased to call the 
weaker vessels, while we are exerting our utmost 
endeavors to aid you in all that makes our country better 
and our homes safer and happier, with our hands tied, 
while you refuse to lift a finger to break our fetters ? Why 
have you driven us to the extreme measures inaugurated 
by the woman’s crusade, if you really mean to be our 
gallant defenders against our deadliest enemy ? In the 
language of one of my sisters, who has thought and felt 
deeply on this subject, I would say, ‘ Think what you 
15 


218 


CADDO; 0R y 


may, gentlemen, of the woman’s crusade, but let me 
say, as a woman who stood inside of it, that the woman- 
hood of this nation never laid such a tribute at the feet 
of its manhood. If you want to find out what a boy is 
worth, go and ask his mother. By the time she goes 
into the jaws of death to give him birth, and then puts 
into him her days of love and nights of care, and he 
stands before her, strong and clean and tall at twenty- 
one, she can tell you what he is worth from the crown 
of his head to the soles of his feet. And when the 
legalized dram shop takes hold of him and tears him 
down fiber by fiber, and puts oaths on the lips she used 
to kiss, and crushes out his mother’s hopes, it is no 
wonder she makes outcry. 

* ‘ If you want to know what a home is worth, go and 
ask a loving woman, who has kept herself as pure as 
God’s lilies for her marriage day, when, with a great 
shine in her eyes, she puts herself over into the hands 
of one man, for better or for worse, for richer or for 
poorer, until life’s end. And when the dram shop with 
its fearful curse crosses the threshold of the home they 
built together, and tears down her strong tower of hope, 
stone by stone, and degrades the father of her children, 
it is no wonder woman makes outcry. What was the 
woman’s crusade ? It was a long, smothered sob break- 
ing into a cry. It was the midnight prayer coming 
abroad at noonday. 

“You men sometimes say to us, as we stand in places 
like this, ‘Home is your kingdom.’ We know that 
better than any one else can, but it is our kingdom that 
is invaded and outraged. You say to us, standing as 
we do, ballotless and defenseless before you, ‘ You do 
not need the ballot; we defend you by love and law.’ 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


219 


Do you, when for eighty-five years, by well-defined 
licensed legislation, motherhood has been uncrowned 
and her children slain by law, and you have made no 
effective protest against it? You have prayed about it 
in your prayer meetings, but when it comes to the 
sweep of empire in the ballot box and in political organi- 
zations, you have made no protest. Oh, men, I do not 
believe in a civilization that cannot protect "its women 
and babies. And grand as you are, and strong and 
brave as you are, you will never be able to protect your 
women and your children and the dram shop at the 
same time. Oh, in shame, in very shame, either get 
up and strike down this monster enemy of the home, 
and of wifehood, and of childhood, or else put the bal- 
lot in the hands of your women for their own protection.” 
We do not ask to rule. No, Mr. President, we do not 
ask for any superior privileges or advantages which you 
cannot enjoy equally with us. We only ask a place by 
your side where God placed us as your helpers, and 
where He would have us to-day, equally equipped with 
weapons of peaceful defense, that we may the more 
effectually aid you in all that makes our country better, 
and our homes and loved ones safer and happier. 

1 ‘ While liquor dealers in their state and national con- 
ventions are passing resolutions without a dissenting 
voice, in opposition to giving us the ballot, on the 
ground that wherever we have been permitted to express 
ourselves on the liquor question, it has invariably been 
in opposition to the dram shop, it would seem that 
all good citizens, irrespective of party, would see that 
the shortest and most effective way for the temperance 
people to accomplish their work and gain a complete 
and permanent victory, is to put the ballot in the hands of 


220 


CADDO; OR , 


the^ women of our nation. But, Mr. President, the 
remainder of my remarks must be made more directly 
in reply to my husband’s arguments. 

“Tom, you say we’re intermeddling, 

Getting out of woman’s sphere ; 

Causing too much consternation 
In the party now, you fear. 

Say there is no style about us, 

And such other ugly flings, 

’Cause we’re trying to bring about 
A good deal better state of things. 

Think we’re rather feeble minded, 

Haven’t sense enough to vote. 

Say we’d better look close after 
Missing buttons from the coats. 

Well, the buttons we’ll look after, 

And another thing or two ; 

For there’s much that’s now neglected, 

Many things that you won’t do. 

You don’t care a continental 

What becomes of Will and Ned, 

Just so you can get an office, 

And the butter for your bread. 

Don’t you see the clouds are rising 
Far above horizon’s level ? 

Don’t you see that rum is taking, 

Will and Ned straight to the devil? 

Tell us not we’re intermeddling, 

Clear outside of woman’s sphere, 

For we’re going to keep on talking 
’Till we gain the nation’s ear. 

’Till we close up every dram shop, 

’Till we bury the saloon, 

’Till our brothers recognize us, 

Something better than a loon. 


CUPID TN THE GAS BELT . 


221 


Inconsistency’s apparent, 

Even to a woman’s eyes. 

When you vote the drunk anarchist, 
Then our angry passions rise. 

We hate treason, yes we do, Tom — 

Hate it for our country’s sake ; 

But the meanest kind of treason, 

Is that which our homes upbreak. 

Breaks them up by taking from us, 

Those whom we love more than life. 

Oh, I tell you, Tom, we mean to 
Stay right in this bitter strife. 

Stay right in it ’till anarchists, 

Drunken thugs and idiots, 

Arn’t considered smarter’n women, 

And much better rights have got. 

Stay right in it ’till the ballot 
Is accorded women too : 

’Till we wield that mighty weapon, 

Now so highly prized by you. 

Then, dear Tom, we’ll still be with you ; 
Not to rule with bitter hate ; 

But with hand and brain to help you 
Lead our land to better fate. 

Longed for day, oh, haste thy coming, 
When the noble and the good 

Of all parties shall defend us, 

In our own free womanhood. 

Then we’ll wave our country’s banner ; 
Grandest flag beneath the sun : 

We with you will lift that ensign 
Of earth’s highest victory won. 


222 


CADDO; OR, 


Fin Mincer was now called, for the closing speech on 
the negative. 

“Mistah Pwesident,” said he, “it is with a feeling of 
twepidation that I see and heah such unsettling and 
dangewous questions to owah democwatic institutions, 
agitated, advocated and discussed. Mistah Pwesident, 
the time-honahed custom of allowing us who pwovide 
foah owah families, and fight owah countwy’s battles, to 
exercise owah gwate pwewogative as the votahs, rulahs, 
and office holdahs of owah countwy, should nevah be 
invaded by such disturbing questions as this. As my 
honahed colleague has twuly said, ‘ Man is the sturdy 
oak and woman the clinging vine,’ and any one ought to 
see the danger of allowing her to assume the pwewoga- 
tive of the sturdy oak. Mistah Pwesident, the vewy idea 
is wediculous and puahly pwepwostewous.” 

At this point Mr. Slathers gave a prolonged hiss, 
which raised a general laugh, and so discomfited the 
speaker that he could not collect his thoughts for further 
remarks, and after clearing his throat three or four times 
he retired to his seat under the frowns of his wife. 

While the judges retired for conference, before an- 
nouncing their verdict, Mr. Staats, who had recently 
quit drinking and taken the pledge, was called on for 
remarks. As he stepped forward to the platform, he said : 

“ Meeshter Bresidendt, I heardt so much dalkings 
alreadty dees evenings apoudt dere oak und dere vine, 
I vill shust shpoke von leedle beece of boetry aboudt 
dodt same : 

“ I dond’t vas breaching voman’s righdts, 

Or anydings like dot ; 

Und I likes to see all beoples 
Shust gondented mit dheir lot. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


223 


Budt I vants to gondradict dot shap 
Dot made dis leedle shoke : 

‘ A voman vas dere glinging vine 
Und man dere shturdy oak.’ 

Berhaps somedimes dot may be drue, 

Budt den dimes oudt off nine 
I find me oudt dot man himself 
Vas peen dere glinging vine. 

Und ven his friendts dhey all vas gone, 
Und he vas shust tead proke, 

Dot’s ven dere voman shteps righdt in 
Und peen dere shturdy oak. 

Ven sickness in dere householdt coomes, 
Und veeks und veeks he shtays, 

Who vas idt fighdts him midoudt resdt, 
Dhose weary nighdts und days ? 

Who beace und gomfordt always prings, 
Und gools dot feveredt prow ? 

More like idt vas dere tender vine 
Dot oak he glings to now. 

Maype ven oaks dhey glings some more 
Und dond’t so shturdy peen, 

Dere glinging vines, dhey haf some shance 
To help run life’s masheen. 

In healdt und sickness, shoy und pain, 

In calm or shtormy vedder, 

’Twas bedder dot dhose oaks und vines 
Should alvays gling togedder.” 


224 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

A MIDNIGHT PLOT. 

T HE Saturday evening following the suffrage discus- 
sion, quite a number of those who had attended the 
lyceum, met at the post-office, among whom were 
Buckwether, Elliott, Mincer, Slathers, Staats, and others. 
The Doctor was strongly censuring the judges for having 
given their verdict in favor of the affirmative. He said : 

“Such decisions, even if the judges were incapable 
of discerning the astute points in my arguments, should 
never have been given in public. They are calculated 
to give the young and rising generation the impression 
that women should , and of right ought to be, brought up 
and placed on a level with men , while the Bible clearly 
teaches to the contrary. Why, it was by and through 
woman that man’s fall was accomplished in the garden 
of Eden ; and the stigma and consequences of this fall 
were then and there placed upon her as a curse by the 
Almighty, and I have no doubt but that God repented 
that he ever made her.” 

“Now, look here, Doc. Buckwether,” said Slathers, 
“ you ought to a been thar to tell the Almighty better n 
to go an’ put a woman in the garden to tempt Adam. 
You kin give God more vallyable information in one uv 
your long horned, double-back-action, all over creation 
prayers, than ole king Solermon, with his three hundred 
wives an’ seven hundred conkybines, ever dremp of.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


225 


‘ ‘ Speaking of Solomon, Mr. Slathers, brings up an- 
other argument you should consider; for even that great 
and wise king fell, through the influence of his wives, 
thus showing clearly the bad influence that women exert 
when they are exalted to high positions.” 

“Well, Doc., I allers thought that both Solermon an’ 
ole Brigham Young ruther over crapped theirselves 
with wimin ; but then their wives must a got the wust uv 
the bargain. Why, jist s’posen you had only ’bout one 
three hundredth part uv a wife, an’ the rest uv her was 
divided ’round ’mungst two hundred an’ ninety-nine 
other men, don’t you s’pose you’d be pesterd a leetle by 
spells with sour stomick ? Fact is, Doc., them wimin 
wuzent exalted very much, ’cordin’ to my figgerin’, 
with sich a cussid small fragment uv a husband to pick 
over ; an’ seen’ they hadn’t nuthin’ sensible to take up 
their time, ’course they’d trump up some kind uv 
devilment. But say, Doc., ef you was out a huntin’, 
an’ had your gun loaded heavy for bar, an’ you seed 
your game a prowlin’ in the distance, an’ a durn little 
tom-tit a settin’ on a bush close by, would you blow that 
heavy bar load out after the cussed little tom tit?” 

“No, sir, Mr. Slathers, that would give the alarm to 
the valuable game. I pride myself on being too good a 
huntsman for that; but what has that to do with the 
question under discussion ? ” 

‘ ‘ Why, Doc. , Adam wuzent nuthin’ but a tom-tit 
compared with Eve. You take the devil fer a bigger 
fool than you are. He knowed durned well whar the 
big game was, when he tackled that job over in Eden. 
He knowed he could git Adam any time he wanted him, 
an’ he were’nt goin’ to waste no ammunition on him ; 
fer as soon as he got the woman, here Adam come a 


226 


CADDO; OR , 


tumblin’ right into the trap afore the ole devil had time 
to even load his gun agin’ fer small game.” 

4 ‘ Do you mean by this, Mr. Slathers, that man is 
weaker and more liable to err than woman ? ” 

“ That’s jist the size of it, Doc., when you come to 
figgerin’ on gittin ’em into the devil’s traps, an’ you can’t 
rub it out. Why, more’n a hundred men are up before 
the courts fer some devilment, to whar you find one 
woman. Then jist look at the steps of creation ; fust the 
earth, then vegetation, arter that fish an’ fowls, then 
animals an’ sichlike varmints, next Adam ; but the last an’ 
crownin’ work uv all was ivoman , the finest an’ best piece uv 
creation that God ever put on this green earth. An’ do 
you s’pose He was a goin’ to make a botch of it on her, 
arter he had got all the lower an’ dirtier work done ? 
No, sir, Doc., the devil’s no spring chicken, an’ he 
knowed durned well ef he’d a commenced firin’ around 
at sich small fry as Adam, he’d a skeerd the woman 
clear outen the garden , an’ then he’d never ketch her. 
Then what could the devil a done with Adam anyhow ? 
He wuzen’t wuth nothin’ to ole nick without the woman, 
an’ he wouldn’t a give a cuss fer him ef he couldn’t a 
got her, no more’n you would fer a durn little tom-tit 
when ther wus bar in sight. No, sir, Doc., that garden 
of Eden business don’t prove nothin’ on your side uv the 
question.” 

“ Ah, Slathers, you are too much of an ignoramus 
to clearly comprehend sound argument,” said the 
Doctor. ‘ ‘ Why, as I said in my speech, the wisest men in 
Europe, for centuries past, have seen the danger of 
recognizing the equality of the weaker sex with men, 
and even you must admit that my arguments wer z strong 
and unanswerable on many points in the discussion.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


227 


“ I don’t care a cuss, Doc., whether your wise men 
live in Europe, Irup ox Omp. I knowdurned well that 
the only danger in our givin’ women a equal chance in 
life is, that all sich edicated fools as think like you do, 
would have to trot up a nation sight livelier ’en ever 
you did er be left to come up with the hindmost. Your 
argyment did smell strong of the saloon, but outside uv 
that, there was nothin’ in it to answer. Any one mout 
guess from your talk that you are a silent partner in a 
second-class drug-store.” 

“That, sir, is none of your business, Mr. Slathers, 
and if you will attend to your own business, and let 
others alone, you will have more friends and will fare 
much better.” 

“ I appwove of those wemarks,” said Mincer ■ “ they 
wemind me of the wemarks I fwequently heard my 
wealthy fathah make befoah he suspended in business. 
He was a silent pawtneh in sevwal lawge enteapwises, 
and I think Mistah Slathers is entiwally too obstwep- 
owus.” 

“ I ha’int no apology to make fer steppin’ on corns, 
gentlemen, when they are scatterd ’round so thick that 
a feller can’t step nowhar else.” 

‘ ‘ Well, J osh, ” said Elliott, ‘ ‘ you needn’t be so blasted 
personal er sarcastic in your remarks. Dr. Buckwether 
is a Christian gentleman, an’ he’s got a right to hev his 
money invested in any legitimate way that suits him.” 

“ Who said he didn’t?” was the quick retort of Josh. 

“ Your manner, sir, indicated more than your words 
would imply,” answered Elliott, “and an apology is due 
from you to the Doctor.” 

“Yes, sir, and this is not the first time you have 
insulted me and other Christian gentlemen, and I de- 


228 


CADDO ; OR , 


mand an apology here and now,” said Buckwether, 
stepping with Elliott toward Slathers, in a belligerent 
manner. 

“ Vait a leedtle, shentlemens,” shouted Staats, “ Vait 
’till I gidts von shlop puckedt to catch dee ploodt mit, 
ofer dere ish peen some shpildt mit der fighdtings 
alreadty.” 

This latter remark caused so much merriment, that 
the war cloud soon passed away, and the company at 
the post office dispersed without further angry words. 
Strange as it may seem, Dr. Buckwether, with all his 
religious pretensions, was a silent partner with Dr. Black- 
foot, and his son Arch, in the drug and saloon business ; 
and as the leading women as well as some of the men of 
Caddo had recently taken active measures to check the 
ravages of the drink traffic, which had invaded some of 
their homes, and was threatening many others, through 
this very saloon, the proprietors became alarmed and 
determined to counteract these measures if possible. 
Accordingly, they met late every Sunday night in Dr. 
Blackfoot’s private office for consultation. Several 
indictments had recently been served on Arch for sell- 
ing intoxicants to minors and habitual drunkards through 
the efforts of the temperance woman chiefly, and this 
had become an expensive business to the proprietors, 
which told largely on their profits. They therefore took 
a few others into their confidence, and laid plans for 
retaliation. 

Mr. Noble’s boys had now all become regular patrons 
of the Blackfoot saloon ; John and Walter, the two 
younger boys, rarely passing an evening without call- 
ing at the saloon, and as they were but little younger 
than Arch, who was regular bar-tender, a close attach- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


229 


ment sprung up between the three young men ; so they, 
with Alexander Wood, a young man who was reading 
law with Mr. Quigley, were sometimes invited to their 
midnight meetings for consultation, as the older men 
could readily use them as “cats’ paws” in some of their 
schemes. 

Six months before the opening of this chapter, a 
stranger made his first visit to Caddo, and registered at 
the hotel under the name of John Long. He always 
seemed to have plenty of money, but where or how he 
came by it, none in Caddo knew ; yet he soon worked 
himself into the good graces of the young men and boys 
who frequented the Blackfoot saloon and billiard rooms. 
He was frequently gone for weeks at a time, but no one 
except the Blackfoots, Buckwether, and the Noble boys, 
seemed to know or care much about him. Although 
Mr. Long was not always called in consultation at the 
Sunday night meetings referred to, yet he was frequently 
seen leaving Dr. Blackfoot’s private office with Dr. 
Buckwether very late at night. 

How the author learned what was done at these mid- 
night meetings, the reader must be left to conjecture, 
until later developments in our story are reached. On 
the Sunday night following the discussion on the Suffrage 
question, a meeting of intense interest was held in Dr. 
Blackfoot’s private office, to which the proprietors had 
invited both Mr. Wood and Mr. Long. In these meet- 
ings, Dr. Blackfoot was generally called “Dick,” and 
Dr. Buckwether “Buck.” 

After the door was locked, and there were but few 
passers on the street, Dr. Buckwether said : 

“ Dick, I tell you something must be done, and that 
soon, too, or these temperance busybodies will ruin our 


230 


CADDO; OR, 


business here. You know Judge Holland and Hen. 
Hartley are taking such radical ground on the drink and 
pool-room question that we can see clearly their talk and 
work will so revolutionize public sentiment here in 
Caddo soon, that our business cannot be run with half 
the profit it has been, unless we can counteract their 
work in some way. They are both very popular men 
and have the confidence of the whole community. Then 
from the way that meddlesome Josh Slathers talked be- 
fore all the crowd at the post-office last evening, some- 
body has surely given a hint that I have stock in the 
business, which will make it very embarrassing to me 
while I try to hold my position as a member of the 
Methodist Church.” 

‘•D n the Methodist Church, Buck,” said Dr. 

Blackfoot, “ I don’t see why you want a membership 
in it anyhow. It never helped me to make any money; 
on the contrary, its members have always tried to nose 
into and interfere with my business.” 

•‘Why, Dick, it’s rather a popular thing now to be 
connected with some church, and the Methodists are 
stronger here than any others, and then I get a good 
many cases that would go to that petticoat doctor, if I 
did not belong to the church. But that’s not what we 
have met to discuss to-night, and we want to get right 
down to business. You see the women are agitating 
this question now, since they have had a little encourage- 
ment from some of the prominent men, and I tell you 
candidly, 1 would rather have a dozen men squinting 
around after our business than one woman. I tell you 
too, it makes this temperance work wonderfully popular 
when such wealthy ladies as Mrs. Warren and Mrs. 
Holland take hold of it as leaders ; while it throws the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


231 


shadows still darker over us. Now what shall we do to 
protect ourselves, Dick ? ” 

“ D d if I know, Buck, unless we can throw a 

bomb into the camp of our enemies. I had hoped until 

recently to spike Hen. Hartley’s gun, but the d d 

dog always finds some way to meet what he owes me, 
so I am thwarted there. I think his. presumptious boy 
at Cincinnati is sending a part of his wages to him, and 
if we could start some kind of a yarn on him that would 
cause him to lose his position there, and also get him 
into the clutches of the law, old Hen. would make any 
sacrifice to clear him. What do you say, Long; can 
you work such a scheme successfully ? ” 

“You bet your bottom dollar I can work it success- 
fully, if you furnish me money enough,” said the young 
man addressed; “but you can readily see that such a 
scheme would take time, and will also be attended with 
more or less danger.” 

“ How soon could you work it up, Long, if you had, 
say one hundred dollars to start with ? ” asked Buck- 
wether. 

“ I could not undertake the job for so small a sum, 
and it would probably take six months, or longer, to 
work such a scheme successfully.” 

“ O, h 1 ! ” said Blackfoot, “ that will never do ; 

we must strike a d d sight quicker than that. What 

is your idea, Buck ? ” 

“You are right, Dick, about striking soon as possible ; 
and if we could get that hateful Slathers into some scrape, 
it would be the best card we could play now ; for he’s 
sure to side with the women and children in everything. 
Then you know, Dick, he’s been no friend of yours 


232 


CADDO; OR, 


since that run-away scrape when George Hartley came 
so near being killed, just before I came here, you know. ” 

“True enough, Buck, but he’s too d d smart to 

be caught with chaff, and he’ll catch us before we know 
it if we fool with him. You know the temperance 
people of the county of all parties, are talking him 

strongly for sheriff, and d d if I don’t believe they’ll 

elect him. So you see, we are in a glass house and want 
no squabble with him.” 

“ You are right, Dick,” said young Wood, “and I 
have another scheme that I think will work better. 
You know that Judge Holland’s son, Morton, and Ed 
Noble had a little knock down in the pool-room the other 
day, and the Judge’s son got the worst of it; and as 
Mort left the room he said, so that a dozen of us heard 
it : “I’ll be even with you before the week is out; ” and 
you know it was the next Saturday night that Ed Noble’s 
barn was burnt. Now we all know well enough how it 
happened, for Ed was drunk as a lord that night when 
he drove out of town, and he fired the barn himself by 
emptying his pipe in the manger; but as Mort was seen 
coming home just before the fire broke out, we can at 
least make a strong case against him. You see Mort’s 
best girl lives beyond Ed Noble’s, and he was coming 
home from there through Ed’s farm just before the fire 
broke out, and I will swear that I saw him running this 
way from the burning barn as I started from town to the 
fire. So you see we have something here to work frbm, 
and it will give the old Judge something else to think 
about for awhile.” 

“ Bully for you, Wood,” said Arch, “that’s the best 
card yet ; for if we can get the old Judge’s boy down, it 
will take the wind out of his sails, you bet. Besides, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


233 


Mort never spends a nickel with us, and d nhim, he 

was trying to get Ed Noble away from our billiard table 
when he got knocked down.” 

“Yes,” said Dr. Blackfoot, “but how canwegetthe 
Hartleys mixed in with this in any way ? I have special 
reasons for wishing to down them, too, if there is any 
way to do it.” 

“Why, you see,” said Buck wether, “old Bill Noble 
is a brother-in-law to Henry Hartley, and his son Ed is 
likely to have trouble in collecting his insurance on the 
barn if it is proved that he was drunk and carelessly 
fired it himself, by emptying his pipe in the manger. 
So what we want is to get old Hen. to stand in with the 
Nobles against Mort, and that will make a split between 
the Judge and him, which, as you say, will be “throw- 
ing a bomb into the camp of our enemy.” 

“That’s the game,” said Alex Wood. 

“Bully,” said Arch, “ we’ll give them a little h — 1 
at home to look after ” 

“ Don’t you think this will be a capital scheme, 
Dick?” said Buckwether. 

“ Yes, capital so far as it goes, if you can get it to 

work. But d d if I feel so very certain that Hen. 

Hartley would ever take sides, even with his own boy , for 
insurance money, unless he was sure that his son was in 
the right.” 

“ Well, arn’t you willing for the game to be tried, 
Dick ?” 

“Oh, yes, Buck, it’s the cheapest thing we can do 
now; and anything for giving them a little h — 1 in their 
own ranks will suit me.” 

It will be seen from the foregoing that Edgar Noble’s 
barn had been burnt, but the following chapter will 
throw more light on this part of our story. 

16 


234 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XXX. 

THE PLOT EXPLODED. 

M ORE than a year has passed since Mrs. Nina Noble 
ceased to be Miss Nina Warren. The Edgar 
Noble that she hoped to reform by marrying was very 
kind and affectionate for some weeks after their marriage, 
and as he touched nothing intoxicating, bright hopes 
were entertained, even by Nina’s parents, that he might, 
in time, become all that her girlish dreams had pictured 
him. So in order to encourage him to make the most 
of himself, Mr. and Mrs. Warren decided to deed a 
beautiful farm to him that lay just east of Caddo. They 
also stocked up the place and gave Edgar an excellent 
start as a young farmer. 

About three months after his marriage, Barnum’s 
circus came to Caddo, and Edgar’s brothers and old 
cronies prevailed on him to take a game with them in 
the Blackfoot pool room just after the street parade. In 
a short time the drinks were set out, and each, excepting 
Edgar promptly emptied his glass; and every frequenter 
of the pool room will understand how his good resolu- 
tions were soon swept away, after he had walked right 
into the temptation. That night Edgar Noble went home 
drunk, and from that hour his manhood suffered a loss 
from which it never recovered. Often would he promise 
Nina that he would never touch the accursed stuff again ; 
but scarcely a week passed in which he did not break 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


235 


his promise, nor a month that he was not too drunk for 
any intelligent business. 

Before the first year of Nina’s married life closed, she 
saw the fatal mistake of her life had been made ; for as 
she sat alone with her first-born, night after night, 
watching for the familiar, yet unsteady, foot-falls of him 
whose coming should have gladdened instead of sad- 
dened her anxious and almost broken heart, she many, 
many times bitterly sobbed out in her lonely anguish, 
1 ‘ Oh, how can he be so cruelly forgetful of all he has 
promised me ?” 

But as this book is not intended to be a description 
of the sorrows of a drunkard’s wife, we shall leave such 
sad details to more trenchant pens. 

As already intimated, Edgar returned to his home late 
at night from the Blackfoot saloon, too drunk to be fully 
conscious of what he was doing, and filling the two 
mangers with hay where the horses stood, he stepped 
to the next manger, and being an inveterate smoker, he 
carelessly emptied his pipe into it just before leaving 
the barn, and the result was a total loss of building, 
farming implements, grain, hay, and his fine team of 
horses, harness, etc. He, however, had nine hundred 
dollars insurance on the building and contents, but 
nothing on his horses. He told his wife the next day 
how he thought the fire occurred, as he had a faint 
recollection of emptying his pipe in the manger, but 
told her to say nothing about it, as he feared he could 
get none of the insurance if it was known that he had 
carelessly fired it in this way himself. But a week or 
two after the fire, his uncle, Henry Hartley, was assist- 
ing him home when he was so helplessly drunk that he 


236 


CADDO; OB, 


could not walk alone, and just before entering his yard, 
he said : 

“Uncle — hie — Henry, Ni — Nina — hie — won’t tell 
any — hie — body that — hie — I— hie — emptied my — hie 
— pipe into the — hie — manger and set the — hie — barn 
on fire. I — hie — told her not to.” 

Thus when Mr. Hartley learned that a plot was con- 
cocted for implicating young Holland as an incendiary, 
he exposed the whole scheme, which prevented his 
nephew from getting the insurance money, thereby call- 
ing down the wrath of all of the Noble boys on himself. 


CUPID TN THE GAS BELT . 


237 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

THE THWARTED SUITORS COMPARE NOTES. 

G EORGE Hartley had applied himself with such 
zealous energy in his uncle’s hardware house that 
he had a thorough general knowledge of the business 
before the close of his first year’s work in the city. He 
had also devoted all spare moments to the acquisition of 
medical knowledge, so that, through the influence of 
his uncle’s half brother, who was one of the professors 
in the Cincinnati Medical College, he was permitted to 
attend lectures and also to enjoy other privileges of 
which none except regular students in the college could 
avail themselves. He felt that Nora had discarded him 
on account of his poverty, and he determined to make 
the most of his opportunities, and if possible acquire 
position and wealth, partly to show her and her haughty 
parents that he was not a nonentity in the world, but 
chiefly, it must be admitted, with a vague hope that he 
could one day win and make her the queen of the beau- 
tiful home his ardent fancy pictured to him in the 
roseate future as all his own. 

It is not uncommon for lovers to do the most unrea- 
sonable and foolish things imaginable, and this was just 
what both George and Nora did after the misunder- 
standing arose between them in reference to their cor- 
respondence. Both suspected Maggie Warren of having 
played on their credulity, hence neither of them trusted 
her with their heart’s bitter secret, and the consequence 


238 


CADDO; OR , 


was nearly two years passed after the lovers left Caddo 
before they learned why, or how, their correspondence 
had been thwarted. 

The young ladies in Miss North’s school were seldom 
permitted to see any young gentlemen company except 
their brothers , who occasionally called to visit them, and 
even they were required to do their talking chiefly in 
her presence, so that a nunnery could scarcely have 
been more of a prison to her pupils than she had suc- 
ceeded in making her school. 

Stuart Stanley was one of the students in attendance 
at the medical college with whom George became inti- 
mately acquainted and closely attached. He, too, had 
been thwarted in a love affair by a wealthy rival, and 
although the girl he loved had not yet married the man 
her proud parents designed she should, yet she had, in 
an unguarded moment, accepted the token of plighted 
faith, and felt herself in honor bound to marry an old 
man she did not love, while young Stanley held her 
undivided heart. Stanley’s parents lived in Albany, 
New York, but he, too, had an uncle in Cincinnati, 
with whom he was living while attending the medical 
college. 

The following conversation between these two young 
men will explain why George opened more of his heart 
to Stanley than he ever had before to any human being, 
except his mother : 

“ I tell you, George, I could not stay in Albany a 
day longer and see that old nabob of a widower driving 
out every day with my Laura. I know she has spoken 
words to me that she can never forget, and if she mar- 
ries that old bald-headed gold bug, it will be with her 
lips only and not her heart, and that only to please her 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


239 


parents. Oh, George, if ever I am tempted to curse 
the idolaters of riches, and this aping, snobbish, unreal 
life, it is when I see a good, pure girl sacrificed to wealth 
in the way that Laura’s parents are determined that she 
shall be. I tell you, George, it is nothing less than 
legalized prostitution; and how any minister can know- 
ingly become a party to joining such a couple in wed- 
lock, and then from the pulpit preach against houses of 
prostitution is more than I can understand. How else 
can such damnable work under the sanction of the 
church appear in the sight of heaven but the most arrant 
hypocrisy ?” 

“ I^agree with you most fully in that, Stanley,” said 
George, “but, of course, Laura’s parents cannot be 
Christians or they never could sacrifice their daughter 
to such a man as you describe Mr. Belden to be.” 

“No, George, not the kind of Christians your mother 
and mine are, but they are strict church members and 
claim to have a great deal of religion. But my opinion 
is that a religion that fails to shield one’s own children 
from such a living death as they are forcing Laura into 
with that lecherous old man, and only because he is rich, 
is far more pleasing to hell than honorable to heaven.” 

“ Well, Stuart, you have one advantage over me at 
any rate. You know from her own words spoken to 
you that she really loves you, while I am left in the dark 
as to what Nora’s feelings are toward me. This one 
letter is the only expression from her that I dared build 
a hope upon; and although I have written her three 
others since receiving this, yet she does not deign to 
answer, and even returned my last unanswered. The 
only hope I have is that there may be some foul play, 
instigated by her parents, to prevent her corresponding 


240 


CADDO; OR , 


with me. But this can hardly be the case, as I know 
this to be her own handwriting. Just look at these two 
envelopes and see for yourself that the same hand 
addressed both.” 

“The same hand that addressed the first envelope 
has written your name on this,” said Stanley, as he 
scanned the writing closely; “but the hand that wrote 
Caddo did not write Cincinnati. This you can clearly 
see. And my opinion is, sir, that Miss North, the 
lynx-eyed old matron in that Albany school is at the 
bottom of this mischief. How do you know that she 
has not intercepted all your letters? Possibly Nora 
has the same feelings toward you that you entertain 
toward her so far as this correspondence is concerned.” 

“ Oh, Stuart,” said George, “ I would wade through 
fire and blood to prove my loyalty to her, if I dared 
believe such to be the case.” 

“ Well, George, when I go back to Albany I’ll find 
out, if possible, anything you desire me to with refer- 
ence to this matter; though just how it is to be done is 
more than I can say now, with that lynx-eyed old maid 
ever on the alert. But don’t become too blue, old 
fellow, your chances are worth a thousand of mine, for 
nothing but the death of old Belden can ever save my 
Laura to me now.” 

But as Stanley did not go to his Albany home for 
some weeks after this conversation, we must call the 
reader’s attention again to things of interest transpiring 
in Caddo. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


241 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

THE DUTCHMAN AND THE CAT. 

A S previously stated, Jacob Staats had ceased to be a 
patron of any saloon. When he saw the influence 
the Blackfoot saloon and pool rooms were having on his 
own, as well as his neighbors’ boys, he took the total 
abstinence pledge, and used his influence to encourage 
others to take the same step. His oldest son, John, a 
lad now past sixteen, but large enough for a young man 
of twenty, had fallen into the trap set in these rooms for 
young men, and had become one of Caddo’s hardest 
drinkers. 

A short time before the incidents mentioned in this 
chapter, John Staats became involved in a quarrel with 
Walter Noble, and Arch ordered him to go out of the 
saloon. This he refused to do if Walter Noble was 
allowed to remain, so Arch, with the aid of his father 
and a young bartender who had been working in the 
saloon for some weeks past, put him out by force, and 
ordered him to go home. They had scarcely re-entered 
the saloon before a rock came crashing through the 
window. 

The next day John Staats was arrested and fined for 
the act, but as he was so drunk when he threw the 
rock as scarcely to be accountable for his acts he seemed 
to remember but little about it. He was, however, con- 
victed of malicious trespass, and his fine placed at ten 
dollars and costs, which amounted in all to seventeen 


242 


CADDO; OR , 


dollars. This his father had to pay, which made the 
old German very indignant, both toward his son and 
the saloonists. He accordingly went to see Arch and 
asked him why he sold whiskey to boys under age, 
saying : 

“You know dot ish gondtrary mit der law alreadty.” 

“I have not sold your boy any whiskey,” replied 
Arch. “If he was drunk he got his whiskey some- 
where else.” 

“ Mein Gott in Himmel, Mon ! vat vor you peen so 
mooch lies tellin’ ? My Shon he gedts nodt trunk mit 
some vindt alreadty. Budt you know he gedts trunk mit 
your saloon efery veek und efery veek.” 

“ Well, Jake, he didn’t get his whiskey here, nor he 
won’t say he did, either,” said Arch. 

“Nien, mit course he not vill gonvict himself, und 
he knows you not vill let him any more viskey haf ven 
he gonvicts you vonce vor to minors viskey sellin’.” 

“Well, Jake, you just prove that your boy got his 
whiskey here and we will make it all right with you,” 
said Arch, and Staats went home, puzzling his brain 
over the peculiarities of American laws. 

“ How vas dodt?” soliloquized he, as he wended his 
way homeward. “I not can vorshtay dhose American 
laws, alreadty. Vorst dey sell mine boy viskey und 
make him so tarn trunk he dond’t can tell vat he does, 
und den day bush him mit dere saloon oudt, und den 
dot viskey make him trow der vinder through dere rock, 
und den der law make me sevendeen tollar pays. I 
dink pedder dere law make dere saloon pay me seven- 
deen tollar vor shpoiling mine poy und making him pe 
von tarn fool alreadty.” 

But Staats’ troubles did not end here. For weeks 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


243 



past a large cat, with a deep bass voice, had paid him 
nightly visits, and perching himself on the back fence 
or woodshed roof, would send forth dulcet yowls that 
attracted all the cats in the neighborhood, and they 
would meow and yowl in concert until the unhappy 
man could stand it no longer, when he would arise and 
unceremoniously disperse the assemblage by hurling a 
boot jack or a brickbat at the chief orator. He got 
frequent glimpses of his tormentor, who always managed 
to keep himself out of the way of any missiles that might 
be hurled at 
him. But 
Staats one day 
caught him 
quietly nap- 
ping in front of 
John Smith’s 
grocery and the 
recollection of 
the hours of 
sleep the ani- 
mal had caused 
him to lose, 
brought a feel- 
ing of bitter 
retaliation into 
the German’s 
heart, and he 
determined to 
end that cat’s life then and there. So picking up a 
chunk of coal, he hurled it with dire vengeance at the 
unsuspecting cat, but the missile was not well directed, 
and instead of demolishing the destroyer of his peaceful 


244 


CADDO; OR, 


slumbers it struck an empty coal bucket near the cat, 
giving it such a fright that it jumped crashing through 
the window of Smith’s grocery, breaking a large pane of 
glass into a thousand pieces. The proprietor came out 
and angrily demanded five dollars from Mr. Staats to 
repair the damage. This he refused to pay, saying that 
it was not his fault that the window was broken ; where- 
upon the injured man brought suit against him to recover 
the amount of the loss sustained. 

As Staats had no witnesses he was allowed to state 
his own case, which he did by addressing the justice 
and jury as follows: 

“Shentlemens mit der gourdt und der honorable 
shury : I toldt you how dot tarn cat peen so much mees- 
cheef doing alreadty, und I broofs to you preddy guick 
vonce dot dere man vat owns dot Thomas cat peen der 
von vat must bay vor dot glass. Efery nighdt vor more 
as dhree veeks dot cat he gidts my voodt shedt on und 
gurls up his pack und bows up his tail und sings like 
dere tuyfel ’till all dere cats vor more as dhree miles 
aroundt dey gooms to his meetings. Now, Meesther 
Shuryman, und Shentlemens mit dere gourt, I peen a 
beaceful man, und I nodt dishturb dhose cat meetings 
vor bedder ash dwo veeks. Budt ven dot Thomas cat 
he gooms pack und sings some more last veek I toldt 
mine frow dot no gristian man vood geep such a tarn 
cat like dot, vot goes aroundt in dere nighdt geeping 
his neighbors awake efery nighdt mit his loudt singing 
alreadty. So I goes oudt mitoudt some glothes on me, 
und der poot shack dhrows mit dot cat. Budt donder 
und blitzen, ofer you belief me, dot cat vas dhree 
schquares away pefore der poot shack missedt idt. Und 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


245 


den efery nighdt he gooms back some more und sings 
mit such a loudt voice dot he vood vake der very tuyfel, 
’till I gedts so tarn madt I dells mine frow dot grocery 
man’s cat he must die vonce if I catch him asleep. So 
day pehindt yesterday I see him shleeping mit der 
cellar door on py der gorner grocery, und I trowed von 
shunk of coal at him und hit him righdt vere I missedt 
him mit der poot shack, und den der tarn fool shumped 
der vinder righdt through. Now, Meesther Shudge, I 
dinks you peen von goodt lawyer alreadty, und I toldt 
you vonce how dot vas. Supposen you vas von tarn 
Tom cat vat goes aroundt efery nighdt und roosts some 
vood shedts on, und sings und hollers like der tuyfel, 
’till all of your vriendts vor dhree or vour miles aroundt 
gooms to dot meeting, und vakes a nice gristian man 
und sevendeen of his shildren efery nighdt up vor dhree 
veeks adt a dime, und den dot man dhrys to preak your 
fool neck mit a shunk of coal, und dot shunk of coal 
dond’t hidt you some, budt you gedts scharedt mit a 
coal pucket vat shtood der cellar door on und shumps 
der vinder through, vood der nice man haf der glass to 
bay vor? No, sir, dot man vat geeps dot fool cat bays 
vor der glass, vor dot ish Amerigan law ; dond’t idt 
Meesther Shudge ?” 

“No, Mr. Staats,” said the Justice; “ if you threw 
the missile which caused the trouble, you are liable for 
the damages which ensued from- your act.” 

‘ 1 Den vy vor dey make me der saloon glass bay vor ? 
Dey make mine poy trunk und den pudt him der saloon 
oudt, und der rock preaks der glass ven he vas so tarn 
trunk he dond’t know more ash dot cat, und den dey 
say I shall bay vor dot glass pecause he ish my poy und 


246 


CADDO; OR , 


he ish under age. Now, Meesther Shudge, aind’t dot 
Shon Schmidt’s cat? Und aind’t dot cat under age ?” 

The case was decided against Mr. Staats, and he went 
home murmuring against the inconsistency of American 
laws, and deciding in his mind that it would be cheaper 
for him to allow Mr. Cat to go on with his nightly war- 
bles and frantic revels, than to carry his war of feline 
extermination any further, that had thus far cost him so 
dearly. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


247 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

JOSH SLATHERS HAS THE ‘ ‘ FEVER’N AGER. ” 

M R. Slathers had been afflicted for some time past 
with fever and ague, and had been advised by 
Dr. Hiatt to use beer three or four times daily, saying 
that it would “cleanse his blood and stimulate his 
liver.” But the invalid was rather skeptical with refer- 
ence to this kind of treatment for his malady, and 
decided to investigate matters a little before taking Dr. 
Hiatt’s advice. 

The opposition which the saloon men in Caddo had 
met with from the temperance people rendered it nec- 
essary that they should cheapen some of their staple 
drinks by adulteration, in order that their profits should 
not be curtailed by the many indictments they were 
compelled to meet for their violations of the liquor law. 
Accordingly they sent east for a brewer’s recipe for 
making a cheap, adulterated beer. Some months 
after it had been in use by the proprietors of the Black- 
foot saloon, Arch, to whom the recipe had been en- 
trusted, dropped it by accident one day in the post 
office, while removing his handkerchief from the pocket 
in which it had also been placed. Slathers saw the 
recipe fall to the floor, but supposing it was merely a 
wrapper or some other worthless paper, paid no atten- 
tion to it until Arch was gone. Carelessly picking it 
up, however, he saw the nature of its contents, but as 


248 


CADDO; OR, 


there were some words in it, the meaning of which he 
did not clearly understand, he decided to thoroughly 
investigate them before returning the paper to Arch. 
He therefore called at Dr. Buckwether’s office the next 
day, where he found, beside the Doctor, Tom Elliott, 
Fin Mincer, Jacob Staats and lawyer Quigley. As the 
invalid had rather a haggard look from the effects of his 
chills and fever, the Doctor said : 

“What ails you, Mr. Slathers? You look as if you 
had been sick a month.” 

“Eve got the fever’ n ager, Doc., an’ don’t know 
what the deuce to take fer it. Dr. Hiatt recommends 
a queer kind uv medicine fer to break it up, but it’s got 
so cussid meny things in it that I never heard on afore, 
I’m kinder afraid some uv ’em mout raise sich a devil 
uv a muss in my stomick arter they all got mixed up 
with the rest, that I’d hev to kick the bucket afore the 
ager could be cured.” 

“Have you a copy of his prescription?” said Dr. 
Buckwether; “if so, I can tell you whether the in- 
gredients will be injurious or not in your case.” 

“Well, Doc., I drawed off most uv the names on 
this bit uv paper, an’ I’ll jist read ’em an’ you kin tell 
me ef it is a good medicine. Fust, malt, hops, Spanish 
licorice, coloring, burnt sugar, cocculus indicus ” 

“ What,” interrupted the Doctor, “cocculus indicus? 
That is a deadly poison, and not fit for the human 
stomach, however much you may dilute it. Why, don’t 
you know it will kill fish when put in the water where 
they are ?” 

“That ain’t fish berries, is it, Doc. ?” said Slathers. 

“ Certainly, sir, that is the common name for coccu- 
lus indicus.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


249 


“Well, then, I’m glad I came to you, Doc., afore I 
tuck eny uv the dratted prescription, fer I ain’t ready to 
go to the boneyard yet.” 

“ And well you may be glad; but read on and let’s 
hear what other poisons that quack has advised you to 
take.” 

“Well, Doc., I guess I didn’t git ’em all tuck down 
jist as they come on the paper, but they are all in here 
somewhere. There is calamus, quassia, gentian, cap- 
sicum, alum, burnt leather, nux vomica ” 

“ Great heavens, man ! you needn’t read any further, 
for I want nothing more to convince me that any doctor 
who would prescribe such a villainous compound for the 
human stomach as that which you have already named 
would make, I say I want nothing more to convince me 
that such a doctor is a fit subject for the state’s prison or 
the lunatic asylum. Why, the two ingredients alone, 
cocculus indicus and nux vomica — fish berries and 
strychnine — two of the most deadly poisons known to 
the profession, would endanger the life of the strongest 
man on earth, if he should be such a fool as to take 
them into his stomach. ” 

“ Well, Doc., it says somethin’ more about a prep- 
aration of lead, aromaticus, caraway seeds, grains of 
paradise, ginger, salt, sour or rotten beans, pounded 
oyster shells an’ oil uv tobacco.” 

“ And Doc. Hiatt really recommended such a villain- 
ous compound to you for your blood and liver, did he ?” 

“Yes, sir, but uv course he expected fer these medi- 
cines to be all mixed up an’ shook up in a good deal uv 
water, and then drink ’em down with the water.” 

‘ ‘ Well, Doc. Hiatt may be such a fool as to suppose 
the water would neutralize the poisons in such a com- 

17 


250 


CADDO; OR , 


pound, but it is a fact well known to physicians and 
chemists, that neither air nor water can rob such poisons 
of their deadly effects. And now, Mr. Slathers, I wish 
to ask you one more question. Would you testify in 
court, if it should become necessary to establish a case 
of malpractice against Dr. Hiatt, that he gave you such 
a prescription, and advised you to take it for your 
present maladies?” 

“ Well, I’ll tell you, Doc., how it wuz. He advised 
me to git some beer at the Blackfoot saloon an’ drink 
it three or four times a day, an’ this is the recipe fer 
makin’ it.” 

A short pause ensued, after which the Doctor, in an 
excited manner, said : 

“ How do you know, sir? Where did you get it ?” 

“Why, it says, ‘a recipe for makin’ a fine, cheap 
beer,’ an’ Arch drapped it by accident in the post office 
yesterday, so, uv course, that must be the kind uv beer 
they hev fer sale thar.” 

“What business have you, sir, with another man’s 
private papers?” said Buckwether, as the true state of 
the case now fully dawned upon his mind. “ Hand it 
to me and I will see that it is placed in the hands of the 
rightful owner.” 

il You should not allow yourself to become excited, 
Doc., so jist keep your shirt on ’till I ast you a few 
questions. Didn’t you advise one uv yer patients last 
week to try usin’ the Blackfoot beer fer his liver? An’ 
didn’t you tell Joe Smith to drink it three er four times 
a day fer his kidney trouble? An’ didn’t you tell his 
wife to use it fer her stomick, an’ that it wuz good fer 
nursin’ mothers?” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


251 


“ I know the Blackfoot beer to be a pure article or I 
should never recommend it to my patients.” 

“ How did you find that out, Doc.? Did you help 
make it, er see it made?” 

‘ ‘ That, sir, is none of your business, but I will- 
answer your question by tellling you that they always 
buy the best and purest brands, and keep nothing else 
in stock.” 

“ The devil they do ! Now look here, you ole pre- 
varicatin’ cuss; you know durned well that there ain’t 
a saloon in the county er state that keeps none but the 
purest an’ best brands uv licker in stock. What’s the 
use in yer lyin’ in that way ? You’d make ole Ananias 
ashamed uv hisself, an’ ef the devil don’t git you there 
ain’t no use in havin’ a devil, fer he wouldn’t git nuthin’ 
to do ef he don’t take such a durned ole hypocrite as 
you are.” 

“Josh Slathers,” said Tom Elliott, “there ain’t no 

use in yer bein’ so d d insultin’ in talkin’ to yer 

betters. Dr. Buckwether is a Christian gentleman, an’ 
this ain’t the fust time I’ve hearn you speak very disre- 
spectful to his face ; an’ ef I hear eny more uv it I’ll 
hev you indicted fer provokin’ an assault.” 

“Yes, sah, Mistah Slathahs,” added Fin Mincer, “ I, 
too, vewy much disappwove of such hawassing expwes- 
sions to my fwiend, the doctah. I think evewy fwiend 
of law and awdah should depweciate ” 

“Oh — the — devil,” interrupted Slathers, showing 
intense disgust. “Ef you three fellers ain’t a sweet- 
scented set to be talkin’ ’bout Christian gentlemen, law 
abidin’, honorable citizen, an’ sich, then I don’t know 
whar outside’n the brimstone country to look fer ’em. 


252 


CADDO; OR, 


So whenever you git ready to start in the indictment 
business jist let me know, will ye?” 

“ Shentlemens, ledt me shpoke a leedle vonce,” said 
Staats; “ I peen a beaceful man alreadty yet, und I vants 
no fightings ; but I nodt vants dot Plagfoot saloon to sell 
mine poy some more of dot beer und viskey vot gills 
fish. I dond’t can undershtand vot dhose intightments 
mean vot you shpoke apoudt alreadty, budt dot peer 
makes mine poy Shon so tam tighdt like der tuyfel 
efery time ven he trinks him ; und I nodt vants some 
more intightments like dot vot mine poy gedts ven he 
trinks dot ox-vomity peer, nodt much. Der Docthor 
say he peen von tam loonadic asylum or shtate’s prison 
vot makes beoples trink dot fish pizen peer. Und I 
dink mine house vill pe von loonadic asylum ven den or 
dwelve more of mine poys some ox-vomity peer efery 
day trinks mit dot saloon. Py tam idt prokes me up 
alreadty mit der many vinders I haf to bay vor, und 
mine whole family vill go mit der tuyfel preddy guick 
righdt avay off of dodt tam foolishness pe nodt soon 
shtopped.” 

Staats’ remarks put the company in a better humor 
and they separated without further unkind words. 


CUPID m THE GAS BELT. 


253 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 


MORE MIDNIGHT PLOTTING. 


“ Envy and jealousy are diseases, 

Growing from other men’s happiness.” 

I NDIGNATION, as well as consternation, was felt by 
the little company that gathered in Dr. Blackfoot’s 
private office for consultation, late the following Sunday 
night. Slathers now had their recipe for making their 
cheap adulterated beer, and if he exposed them, as they 
felt sure he would, it would work great injury to their 
business. How to counteract this annoyance and sup. 
press Slathers, was the chief business of the meeting that 
night. 

“ We are in a devil of a box,” said Dr. Blackfoot, 
“and something must be done immediately. It was a 

d d careless trick in Arch to carry that recipe around 

in his pocket, but that can’t be helped. The question 
now is, how to get it out of Slathers’ hands, and after 
that, to shut off the d — d scoundrel’s wind, if possible.” 

“ Well, as I said at one of our former meetings,” said 
Dr. Buckwether, “I think our best course will be 
to work up some kind of a scheme on him, that will get 
him into trouble; and I think I see a way now that will 
fix him, if we can get it to work. I saw him trying to 
pass a counterfeit twenty dollar bill at Smith’s grocery 
yesterday, but Smith refused to take it. He told Slath- 


254 


CADDO; OR, 


ers it was a bad bill, and advised him not to try to pass 
it. But the self-willed fellow said he got it at the bank, 
and that he knew it was a good bill. Mr. Johnson, who 
handles a great deal of money, stepped in just then, 
and Smith asked his opinion of it. Johnson examined 
the bill closely and pronounced it bad, but would not 
say positively that it was counterfeit; yet he advised 
Slathers not to try to pass it. But the head-strong fel- 
low contended that it was good, and that he got it at 
Warren's bank, and did not intend to lose it, and told 
Smith if he did not want the bill, he did not want his 
groceries, so he left the store and went up to Wilson’s 
grocery and made his purchases there. I was so sure 
he would try again to pass the bill that I walked up and 
dropped in there while Slathers was trading, and bought 
a cigar for myself, just in time to see him shove that bill 
on to Wilson. After he was gone, I told Wilson what 
Smith and Johnson had said about the bill; and after 
looking at it again, he said it might be a counterfeit, but 
he hardly thought it was ; yet, while the matter was fresh, 
he would see Slathers and get another bill in its stead. 
But I have since learned that the stubborn fellow refused 
to redeem the bill unless Wilson could prove that it was 
counterfeit. So I think we have a strong case against 
him.” 

“ Bully for you, Doc.,” cried Arch, “that’s the best 
trump yet ; and we’ll bag our game and spike his gun 
this time sure.’ 

“Yes,” said young lawyer Wood, (who knew that 
lawyer Quigley was also a silent partner in the saloon 
and pool-rooms.) “Yes, gentlemen, we can surely make 
a strong case against the meddlesome scoundrel now ; for 
while he thinks you are handling counterfeit brands of 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


255 


liquors, if we prove that he is shoving counterfeit money, 
we can soon have him behind prison bars, where he can 
do you no more harm, for the law is very strict on this 
latter crime.” 

“Well, gentlemen, we must all stand together and 
keep our own counsel,” said Dr. Blackfoot, “for we’ve 
got no fool to deal with ; and if he or his friends get on 
to our scheme before we have all our ropes set, I fear he 
will beat us.” 

‘ ‘ That is true, ” replied Buckwether, ‘ ‘ and I wish Mr. 
Long was with us to-night, for he surely has a long and 
level head for such business as this. I wonder why he 
failed to come to-night. I told him that this would be 
one of our most important meetings.” 

“ It occurs to me,” said Dr. Blackfoot, “ that there is 
something strange in Mr. Long’s movements of late. 
Gentlemen, do you really believe that he lives in 
Kentucky ? ” 

“Why, certainly,” cried Wood and Arch, in one 
breath ; * ‘ there can be no doubt of that, as he is receiv. 
ing letters almost daily from Louisville.” 

“Well, perhaps he is all right, but I think we had 
better be cautious about giving him too much of our 
business.” 

“Oh, Pa, you are always suspicious of every one,” 
urged Arch; “I’m not afraid to trust John Long with all 
of our movements, for he’s all O. K., isn’t he Wood? ” 

“You bet he is, Arch, and you can gamble on that 
as much as you please, for he is one of the bohoys,” 
said the young attorney. 

“ Sometimes these “bohoys,” as you call them, turn 
out to be tartars, but perhaps Long is all right,” suggested 
the Doctor. 


256 


CADDO; OR, 


“ Oh, yes, Dick, Long is surely with us,” added 
Buckwether, ‘ ‘ and we need lose no sleep on that score. 
So let’s go on with our plans. Of course, Quigley must 
manage the case, but associate counsel may be necessary, 
and that will take some money.” 

“ There will be the trouble,” said Dr. Blackfoot. 
“ We shall have to retain all of the best attorneys here 
where he is so well known, and there is no use in going 
into this fight with less than two hundred dollars, and 
possibly we shall have to double that before we are 
through.” 

Wood agreed with this, and said that he and Quigley 
would do all they could free of charge, and would stand 
fifty dollars of the expense, as their part of the fund 
necessary to start the prosecution. It was then decided 
that the suit should be entered forthwith, so the case 
could be brought in the next term of court, which con- 
vened in two weeks. 

On the following Wednesday, Slathers was arrested 
on the charge of passing counterfeit money. He had 
learned early Monday morning, however, what was on 
hand, and had retained lawyer Benton for his defense, 
and he had no trouble in giving bond for his appearance 
at court. 

Mr. Long knew all that was done in that Sunday 
night meeting, within a half hour after it closed ; but how 
he found it all out, is not necessary to state here. So 
he called early on Monday morning at Wilson’s 
grocery, and made a careful examination of the alleged 
counterfeit bill, taking its number and the name of the 
president of the National Bank (whose signature was on 
the bill) from which it was claimed the bill had been 
issued. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


257 


CHAPTER XXXV. 

JOSHUA AS A COUNTERFEITER, OR THE LAWYER 
OUTWITTED. 

W HEN the day of trial came for Joshua Slathers’ 

. case, the court room was crowded. Few thought 
him guilty of willfully passing counterfeit money, but 
the evidence, so far as stated by his enemies, seemed to 
be strongly against him. The jury being selected and 
agreed upon by all parties, lawyer Quigley arose and 
stated the case, substantially as follows, after reading 
the indictment: 

“ May it please the court, and you gentlemen of the 
jury, to hear us state some of the main points in our case, 
before examining our witnesses. We shall prove that 
the said Joshua Slathers, as mentioned in the indict- 
ment, did, on the 24th day of August, 18 — , knowingly, 
willfully, and maliciously pass a counterfeit bill, known 
as twenty dollars, to the injury, detriment and loss of 
one Isaac Wilson, of the town and State aforesaid, and 
against the peace and dignity of our commonwealth and 
the statutes in such cases made and provided.” But we 
shall not take the reader’s time to go through all the 
labyrinths of an ordinary court trial. Suffice it to say, 
the prosecution followed the course usual in such cases, 
and had no trouble in proving that the defendant did pass 
the bill referred to, and that too, after he had been warned 
by different parties that the bill was suspected of being 


258 


CADDO; OR , 


spurious. But this point the defense did not deny. 
After the evidence for the State was all in, Mr. Benton 
called Slathers to the witness stand to testify in his own 
behalf, and he began in a straightforward manner to tell 
when and where he got the bill, but he was here 
interrupted by Quigley with several questions that had 
no special bearing on the case, all of which he promptly 
answered without the least hesitation, until he came to 
the point as to why the bill should appear to be so badly 
bleached and stained, when the accused apparently be- 
came very indignant at so much interruption, and said : 

“HI tell ye ‘bout that when I git to it, an’ I’ll be thar 
purty soon, ef you’ll jest keep your shirt buttoned a bit, 
an’ not git in too big a hurry.” 

“ If the court please,” said Quigley, “ I have asked 
the witness a simple question bearing on the case, and I 
demand that he shall answer it.” 

“ Didn’t I tell ye I was a goin’ to answer it ? ” said 
Slathers; “ you must be a gittin’ excited, er hungry 
mebby.” And taking a large red apple from his coat 
pocket, he. said : “ Here, take an apple, an’ mebby that’ll 
keep ye still while gentlemen be a talkin’.” 

“ The witness will proceed with his evidence,” said 
the Judge, gravely. 

“Well, gentlemen, I got that twenty dollar bill at 
Warren’s bank ’bout the fust of August, an’ I had it 
rolled up in a piece uv yaller paper, as I was a sayin’ 
"when Quigley bothered me. Well, a few days arter I 
got it, I started over to Joe Brookses to git a fine Durham 
calf he'd been a savin’ fer me. You see, Joe’s got an 
allfired big paster, an’ the creek runs through it. Well, 
the cattle was all on this side uv the creek, an’ his house 
is on t’other side. But, thinks I to myself, I’ll jest look 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


259 


through that bunch uv cattle ’afore I go over to the 
house, to see ’bout the calf. So I walked round ’mong 
’em, a admirin’ their good pints, when all of a suddent 
the ole grandfather of the herd, he seemed to smell a 
mice, an’ ’peared like he kinder guessed at I were arter 
one uv his children ; an’ he begun to beller low like, an’ 
pawed the sile up over his back, an’ he looked mad an’ 
vicious, so thinks I ” 

“If the court please,” urged Quigley, “I wish 
the witness to stop this nonsense and answer my 
question.” 

“Jist so,” retorted Slathers; “as I was a sayin’, that 
durned ole bull lifted his tail an’ ducked his head an’ 
pawed the sile up over his back an’ bellered an’ looked 
mader en a hornet. So, thinks I to myself, mebby its 
me that’s a makin’ him feel so oncomfortable, so I lit 
out acrost the paster towards Mr. Brookses, kinder 
whistlin’ low like as ef I didn’t know the durned ole cuss 
was a follerin’ me, and ” 

“ I demand that this story shall be stopped, and my 
question answered,” again urged Quigley. 

But the court, jury and spectators were becoming too 
much interested in Slathers’ story, to second Quigley’s 
efforts very strongly, and when the witness said, 

“ Mr. Quigley, I’ve got the floor now, an’ I want you 
to jest keep still ’till I git through. I never seed sich 
a durned illmannerly cuss, to be a puttin’ in that way 
when other folks is a talkin’.” 

Such a laugh was caused at the young lawyer’s expense, 
that he permitted Slathers to go on about in his own 
way for awhile. 

“ As I was a sayin’,” resumed the witness, “I lit out 
acrost the paster towards Brookses, a walkin’ purty 


260 


CADDO ; OR, 


lively, an’ the ole bull follerin’ an’ a stoppin’ every roder 
two to paw some more sile up over his back, an’ a bellerin’ 
mad like, so thinks I to myself, ole cuss I shan’t be 
lonesome without you, an’ ef you don’t keer no more 
’bout my company en what I do fer yourn, you’ll go 
back to your neglected family an’ leave me alone. But 
no, sir ; he had undertuck to see me outen that ere 
paster an’ he wan’t a goin’ to slight the job. So, thinks 
I to myself, I’ll kinder stop whistlin’ an’ walk up a little 
brister, an’ mebby the ole cuss’ll git lonesome an’ go back. 
But jist then I looked back over my shoulder an’ I see 
him a cornin’ in a kind of a turkey trot, an’ he want a 
stoppin’ to paw no more sile over his back, so I knowed 
then jist what the ole feller were a speculatin’ on. The 
creek was more’n forty rods away, an’ tha’d been a big 
rain the night afore, an’ I couldn’t cross it without goin’ 
more’n a quarter uv a mile below to the bridge ; but I 
seed a big ash stump a standin’ right on the bank uv the 
creek, an’ thinks I to myself, I’ll jist run an’ jump on top 
tiv that stump an’ stan’ thar an’ holler to Brooks to come 
with a boss an’ drive the ole cuss away. So out I lit 
like a quarter hoss fer that stump, an’ the ole bull arter me 
full tilt, with his head down an’ his tail up an’ lookin’ 
mader’n the devil, an’ I seed he was a gainin’ on me 
every jump he tuck, fer I ’low he’d figgered out that 

I were a aimin’ fer that stump, an’ ” 

“ Mr. Slathers, I asked you a question a quarter of 
an hour ago,” again angrily interrupted Mr. Quigley, 
“and now I want you to stop this nonsense and answer 
my question forthwith. If you know this to be a good 
bill, as you say, how do you account for its present 
appearance, when you claim it looked all right when 
you got it from Warren’s bank?” 


CUPID IN THE GAS PEL T. 


261 


“Now look here, young man,” resumed Slathers, “ I 
didn’t ast you no questions when you was a talkin’, so 
jist you keep still a minit er two, an’ I’ll tell you all ’bout 
that bill. As I wuz a sayin’, it wuz a gittin’ to be a 
lively tussel, which would git to that stump fust, me er 
the bull, but finally I come in jist ’bout the bull’s length 
ahead, an’ up I springs fer the top uv the stump. But, 
gosh, men, that stump wuz holler, an’ I went right down 
in it up to my waist, an’ the ole bull’s head come whack 
up agin the stump, like a ole switch engine backin’ up 
to a freight train. The holler wern’t very big in the 
stump, so it wuz purty tight squeezin’ fer me to scrouge 
down in it fur enough to git my head outen sight uv the 
bull. Purty soon he commenced bellerin’ in a deep, 
meller voice, an’ a pawin’ the sile up over his back so 
high that I could see some uv the dirt a flyin’ from whar 
I sot a squattin’ in the stump. Thinks I to myself, ole 
fool, you kin jist amuse yerself out thar a pawin’ an’ a 
scrapin’ an’ a bellerin’ all you durn please, but I’m goin’ 
to stay right here in this stump ’till this meetin’s out. 

“But by ’n by the ole cuss got still, an’ I thought he’d 
got tired an’ gone back to the herd, so I riz up slow 
like to see whar he wuz, but geewhillicks, thar he wuz 
not five feet from the stump, an’ afore I could eny 
more’n get down outen sight, kerbim, he tuck the stump 
agin’ an’ I felt it give a little that time, fer the roots wuz 
considerable rotten. Jist then I heard sumthin’ down 
in the bottom uv the stump a wizzin’ an’ a sizzin’ an’ 
thinks I to myself, thay’s a rattlesnake in this ere stump, 
an’ then I wuz skeered fer sartin. So I riz up an’ 
thought I’d jump out on t’other side uv the stump frum 
whar the bull wuz. But, gosh, I couldn’t, fer it wus 
right on the bank uv the creek an’ the water wuz ten 


262 


CADDO; OR , 


foot deep. So I drapped back into the stump, and none 
too quick either, fer he knocked dirt into my eyes that 
time. The sizzin’ now got louder down in the stump 
about my feet, an’ jist then sumthin’ tuck me on the 
leg that felt ez hot ez fire. Thinks I to myself, Josh 
Slathers, you’re done fer this time sure ez shootin’, fer 
ef you stay in this stump you’ll be pizened to death by 
a awful great rattlesnake, an’ ef you get outen the stump 
the bull will sling you to the four winds, an’ what the 
devil to do under the sarcumstances then prevalin’ wuz 
more than I could figger. But I begun cipherin’ out 
which would be the most becomin’ uv a good Republi- 
can, to stay thar in the stump an’ be pizened to death 
by a awful great snake, er to come out an’ hev my inards 
slung all over creation by that cussid ole bull. Jist then I 
got some more bites on my legs an’ ’bout the gable eend 
uv my trouses, an’ finally one on my finger. I jerked my 
hand up an’ see it wuz nuthin’ but a cussid little yaller 
jacket a stingin’ it. Then I looked down an’ see the 
hull bottom uv the stump wuz full uv yaller jackets, an’ 
fer a minit er two I felt happy, fer I knowed it wasn’t 
no durned pizen snake a bitin’ me. But the last whack 
the bull give the stump broke some more uv the roots 
loose an’ stirred up all the little yaller devils in thar, an’ 
got ’em so all-fired mad that they was a dabbin’ their 
stings to me all over. I knowed I couldn’t stand it 
much longer the way things wuz a workin’ an’ I thought 
my time hed ’bout come. I tried to think uv some 
prayer suitable fer the occasion, an’ commenced, ‘Now 
I lay me down to sleep.’ But, great Caezar, men, I 
couldn’t pray fer cussin’. Why, jist then one uv them 
little mad devils tuck me right on the eend uv my nose, 
an’ the whole inside uv that stump wuz jist a gittin’ yal- 





‘ ‘ Pm goiii > to stay right here in this stump '‘till this meet in's out ,' 1 ' 1 







264 


CADDO; OR , 


ler with ’em. Then I thought uv the martyrs, uv 
Dan’l in the lion’s den, uv Job kivered all over with 
biles, an’ uv Joseph tempted by Potipher’s wife. But, 
the holy Moses, Quigley, thay w r ern’t none uv them 
furriners in no sich a devil uv a fix ez I wuz thar in 
that lively stump kivered all over with yaller jackets an’ 
the ole bull jist outside a layin’ fer me. There wuz 
plenty uv company thar but I was a gittin’ mighty lone- 
some, you bet, an’ ” 

“If the court please,” again interrupted Quigley, “ I 
demand that this foolishness be stopped and that the 
witness be required to answer my question. You said 
you could explain why this bill had so much of the ap- 
pearance of a counterfeit, and you seem no nearer 
ready to answer than you were a half hour ago.” 

“The witness will now answer the question as con- 
cisely as possible,” said the Judge. 

“Sartainly, sartainly. I wuz jist a cornin’ to that 
pint. Live er die , thinks I to myself, I’m goin’ right 
outen this stump, fer I can’t stand the racket here 
no longer. An’ bein’ a purty good rider, thinks I to 
myself, I’ll jist up an’ put my feet on the sides uv the 
stump at the top, an’ as the bull comes up I’ll jump 
astraddle uv him, fer he can’t hook me ez long ez I kin 
stick on his back. But jist as I wuz perched up thar 
fer the spring the ole cuss let fly at the stump so hard 
that he knocked it clear over into the creek, an’ jist as 
the stump give way I lit on the ole fool’s back, with my 
face toward his tail, which I grabbed in my hand to 
kinder stiddy myself, an’ that surprised him so much 
that he gin a big lunge right over the bank into the 
creek ; an’ thar me, an’ the bull, yaller jackets an’ all, 
went clar under the water, but as we come up I slipped 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


265 


off, but hilt on his tail, fer as he wuz the best swimmer, 
thinks I to myself, ole fool, you got me in here, an’ now 
you kin jist tow me ashore. But the water got shallerer 
toward the north side uv the creek, so when he got me 
to where I could wade out, I gin his tail a warm an’ 
vigorous twist, which seemed to gin him more friendly 
feelin’s toward me, fer as soon as he got out uv the 
creek he hurried on down to the bridge an’ went back 
to the other cattle without ’nuther word about our little 
difficulty. But Quigley, I kin tell ye I wuz purty 
wet, an’ that twenty dollar bill wuz in my breeches 
pocket rolled up in a piece uv yaller paper, an’ as Mr. 
Brooks wern’t at home I didn’t take the calf that day, 
an’ hain’t been back fer it yit, nor don’t think now that 
I’d better take it, as I’m kinder disgusted with the 
breed. So the fust thing I done when I got home wuz 
to squeeze the water outen that twenty dollar bill, an’ 
then I laid it in the winder to dry, an’ a part uv it dried 
in the sun an’ the other part in the shadder uv the sash, 
an’ that’s what makes it look so streaked.” 

“Well, Mr. Slathers,” said Quigley, “ you have spun 
out a long yarn to give so little evidence.” 

1 1 ’Tis likely,” coolly replied Slathers; “but have you 
any more questions to ast?” 

“No,” roared Quigley, “for if it should take you as 
long to answer the next one, we should not get through 
with the case to-day.” 

Just then a well dressed stranger entered the court-room 
and lawyer Benton stepped forward and greeted him 
cordially. The two then stepped in a side room together, 
but within a few minutes were back in the court room 
again. 

18 


266 


CADDO; OR , 


“ If the court please,'’ said Benton, “ we have one 
more witness to examine, after which the defendant will 
make a few statements, when we shall be through with 
our evidence. The clerk will swear Ira Sanborn, of 
Albany, New York.” 

Mr. Sanborn, after being sworn, took the witness 
stand. 

“Mr. Sanborn,” said Benton, “please state your 
name and place of residence to the court.” 

“ My name is Ira Sanborn, and I reside in Albany, 
New York.” 

“ Please state to the court what your occupation is.” 

“Banking, sir.” 

“What position, or rather what relation to the bank- 
ing business do you sustain ?” 

“I am president of our bank, sir.” 

‘ ‘ Please state to the court the name of the bank of 
which you are president.” 

“The National Bank of Albany, sir.” 

“Is your name as president of said bank signed to 
all bills issued by your bank ?” 

“ It is, sir.” 

‘ ‘ Please look at this bill, sir, and then state to the 
court what your opinion is with reference to its being 
genuine or counterfeit.” 

“We object, your honor,” said Quigley. “We 
object to the witness answering this question until we 
have more evidence that he is the man that he claims 
to be.” 

“While your objection,” said the Judge, “is not 
very well founded, since his giving an opinion is not 
positive proof either way, yet the court sustains your 
objection.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


267 


“ Very well,” said Benton. “Is there any one in 
Caddo, Mr. Sanborn, who knows you, or any one who 
has seen your handwriting ?” 

“I know Mr. Warren, president of your bank, by 
reputation, and have seen his writing frequently and 
he has seen mine, but have never had the pleasure of 
meeting him personally.” 

“Do you know whose writing this is?” said Benton, 
as he handed the witness a scrap of paper on which a 
few lines were written. 

“ I should say it is William Warren’s, the president 
of your bank.” 

“Very well. Now please write your name, as you 
generally sign it, on the back of this paper.” 

The witness signs his name and hands the paper back 
to Benton. 

“Bailiff,” said Benton, “call Mr. Warren.” 

Mr. Warren was brought into court, and after being 
sworn, took the witness stand and was asked by Benton 
if he had ever met the stranger before who had just left 
the witness stand. 

“No, sir, not that I now recollect,” said Warren. 

“ Did you ever see this name and peculiar hand- 
writing?” said Benton, as he handed him the paper on 
which Mr. Sanborn had written his name. 

“ Yes, sir, this is Ira Sanborn’s name and signature.” 

“ Very well. Now please state to the court who Mr. 
Sanborn is.” 

“ Ira Sanborn is President of the National Bank 

of Albany, New York.” 

“Now look at this bank bill and tell the court whose 
signature is on it, and whether or not the signatures 
correspond.” 


268 


CADDO; OR, 


44 Ira Sanborn’s signature is on both this bill and slip 
of paper you gave me.” 

“Now turn the paper over and tell the court whose 
writing is on the other side.” 

44 It is my own, sir.” 

Mr. Sanborn was again called to the stand and testi- 
fied to the genuineness of the bill, and the court and 
jury were soon fully convinced that it was not a counter- 
feit, for both Messrs. Sanborn and Warren offered to 
give other bills in exchange for it. 

Here the attorneys for the prosecution became some- 
what confused and disagreed among themselves, and so 
failed to notice the character of the questions which 
Benton was asking Slathers who, in the meantime, had 
been called back to the witness stand. 

“State to the court, Mr. Slathers,” said Benton, 

4 4 whether you have any reason to believe that this 
whole case has been worked up against you through 
malice.” 

The attorneys for the prosecution were quarrelling too 
intently among themselves to notice the question, and 
Slathers blurted out : 

44 That’s jist the size uv it, Benton. Thay’s a set uv 
rats in this town a makin’ an’ sellin’ counterfeit drinks 
fer ginewine pure brands, an’ I got a holt uv one uv 
their receets an’ exposed their durned fraud, an’ that’s 
what makes ’em so hot arter me.” 

44 Will you state to the court who these parties are?” 

4 4 Yes, sir. Doc. ” 

4 4 Hold on there ,” roared Quigley. 4 4 We object to any 
such questions or answers ; they are irrelevant and have 
nothing to do with the case.” 


CUPID TU THE GAS BELT. 


269 


“ All right, Quigley,” said the witness, “ ef ye don’t 
want to hear nuthin’ about Blackfoot, Buckwether & 
Co.’s counterfeit drinks I shan’t force ye to. Butmebby 
you’ve got another question er two to ast; ef ye have 
jist crack away, an’ don’t be backerd.” 

“Take the witness,” said Benton, “ if you wish to 
cross-question him.” 

“ We have no further use for him,” yelled Quigley, “as 
we have clearly established our points.” 

The case was then submitted to the jury with but little 
argument on either side, and these twelve men rendered 
a unanimous verdict of acquittal without leaving the jury^ 
box. 

Some explanation is here due the reader as to why 
Mr. Slathers was permitted to spin out his evidence to 
such an undue length. His case had been set for trial 
on the 15th of September, at 1:30 o’clock p. m. 
Mr. Long, who had been in consultation with the 
saloonists, was a detective from Albany, New York, 
4nd being personally acquainted with Mr. Sanborn, he 
wrote that gentleman some of the points in the case. 

As Mr. Sanborn had business in St. Louis, he wrote 
Mr. Long that he should pass through Caddo on his 
return trip, and if his presence would be of any service 
in clearing an innocent man, he would arrange to stop 
off there on the day of the trial. Mr. Long showed 
the letter to Benton, who immediately wrote Mr. San- 
born, thanking him for his proffered services and asked 
him to be in Caddo on the 14th, if possible, as he wished 
to confer with him on some points before going into 
trial. This, Mr. Sanborn agreed to do, and so notified 
him by return mail. But he was detained a day longer 
in St. Louis than he had anticipated, so sent Mr. Ben- 


270 


CADDO; OR , 


ton a telegram that he could not reach Caddo before the 
3 p. m. train on the fifteenth. Benton, though, 
supposing that the prosecution would occupy the greater 
part of the time until that hour in opening the case and 
examining their witnesses, decided to let the case begin 
at the hour appointed. But when he saw they would 
be through with their witnesses long before three 
o’clock, he told his client to string out his bull story, 
which Slathers had related to him before, and in no case 
to allow Quigley to browbeat or confuse him, as they 
must ‘ ‘kill time” in some way until Mr. Sanborn arrived. 
The Judge, also, seeing there was nothing in the case, 
and Slathers being an unusually rich witness, decided 
to allow them an hour of fun. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


271 


CHAPTER XXXVI. 

DR. BUCKWETHER’S QUARTETTE. 


A NEW minister, the Rev. Robert Litchfield, had 
been sent to the Methodist church in Caddo; and 
as there had been quite a disturbance in the choir just 
before his arrival, this part of the church machinery was 
so much out of harmony that it refused to work any 
longer. Rev. Litchfield, therefore, had to conduct the 
church services in the old fashioned way, by leading the 
singing himself, the first Sabbath ; but at the close of 
the services, he requested those of his congregation who 
felt an interest in having a choir or quartette organized, 
to remain a few minutes for consultation on the subject. 
As this was his first sermon in Caddo, there were quite a 
number present who did not attend church, amongst 
whom were Tom Elliott, leader of the Caddo brass band ; 
Fin Mincer, drummer; and Jim Burton, second fiddler 
in the string band, who made great claims as to their 
musical attainments. These three, with Ella Kirby and 
Dell Norton, who prided themselves on being good 
operatic singers arid the best dancers in Caddo, together 
with Dr. Buckwether, remained with Rev. Litchfield to 
confer on the question of church music. As Dr. Buck- 
wether had managed to be called on for his general pur- 
pose prayer after the sermon, which he delivered in his 
usual sanctimonious manner, the new minister naturally 
took him to be a “ well meaning” man. So when Buck- 


272 


CADDO; OR , 


wether proposed to look after the matter of church 
music, and see that there was an efficient choir, or 
quartette, organized that would be a credit to the church, 
he gave the whole matter over to him to be properly 
arranged, as he was himself an entire stranger to all 
parties in his new charge. Dr. Buckwether accordingly 
appointed Thomas Elliott, James Burton, and Dell Nor- 
ton, as a committee on church music, with instructions for 
them to secure an organist and have the general over- 
sight of the music for the first quarter. 

Maggie Warren was a splendid organist, and had 
served in that capacity for years; but as she was a 
modest Christian girl, and did not enjoy the society of 
this new committee, she was not called upon by them 
to take the place of organist. The committee met the 
following evening at Mr. Norton’s for consultation, and 
the organist was the first thing considered. 

“ We must have an organist that’s got some git up an’ 
snap,” said Tom Elliott; ‘‘one that will play a good 
dancing jig, or something livelier’n Old Hundred ; fer I 
tell you now we’re a goin’ to trot ’em out some stylish 
music, something that will draw the crowd, you know.” 

“Yes, that’s the ticket,” replied Jim Burton ; “we want 
an organist that can play like the devil for our string 
band, dances, or anything else that suits our set. ” 

“Well, Jim,” rejoined Elliott, “you’re the very chap 
we want then, fer you can jump from “A Charge to Keep 
I Have,” to “The Devil and the Dutchman,” quicker 
’en any man I ever saw.” 

“Oh, that will never do,” said Burton. “What’ll the 
church folks think of me up there, helping to run the 
services? Why, they all know durned well what kind 
of a cat I am.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


273 


u D — n the difference,” exclaimed Elliott; “they want 
some artistic music, an’ we’ve spent too much time an’ 
money a learnin’ that very thing to let a chance slip, 
like this. ’Course we are none of us any great shakes on 
religion ; but that cuts no figger in a choir, you know, 
and so we might as well have their money as not, seein’ 
they are a goin’ to hire some kind of a choir to do the 
music act fer ’em.” 

“ Do you weally mean, Mistah Elliott,” said Mincer, 
“that they will pay us a weasonable salary foah owah 
services as a choiah or musical quahtette?” 

“Course they will, Fin, do you suppose we would be 
sich durned fools as to spend our vallyable time in look- 
ing up something appropriate for them, and then after 
renderin’ it in as artistic a manner as we shall, that we 
should then get nothin’ fer it ? No, sir, not by a d — d 
sight.” 

“Well, weally, I am delighted with the entepwise, 
foah I need a new suit of clothes, and I am even now 
entiahly out of cigaw money, so the needs of the church 
awe vewy oppahtune, and I shall highly appweciate my 
pawt of the salawy.” 

So it was decided that Jim Burton should take the 
position of organist, and a quartette should be organized, 
with Ella Kirby for soprano singer, Dell Norton, alto, 
Fin Mincer, tenor, and Tom Elliott, bass. They selected 
the following beautiful anthem for the opening service, 
which, if properly rendered, adds dignity and grandeur 
to church worship : 

“Enter not into judgment with thy servant, O Lord, 

For in thy sight shall no man living be justified.” 

But as none of the quartette were very well posted in 
vocal music, they got things considerably mixed, and 


274 


CADDO; OR, 


allowed the tenor to first sing the whole piece through as 
a solo ; after which, they all struck in together at the 
first, with about as much attention to time, accent, and 
articulation , as is generally given by a flock of geese in a 
barn lot when a strange dog suddenly makes his appear- 
ance amongst them. The consequence was, that not a 
word of the anthem was understood by any one in the 
congregation. The minister being nearer the singers 
than others in the church, understood it about as follows : 

“ Ee-n-tah-ah-teen-toy-ah-me-to-twee-sah-van-to-Lawd, 
Fah-een-to-seet-shelle-noom-ah-lew-see-boo-gees-te-feed. ” 

This was so unintelligible to him that he felt it to be 
his duty to rebuke such Godless singing in his church, 
which he did in his sermon that day, after announcing 
his text from I Corinthians, 14th chapter, and parts of 
the 9th, 15th and 19th verses: 

“ Except ye utter by the tongue, words easy to be 
understood, how shall it be known what is spoken ? for 
ye shall speak into the air.” 

‘ ‘ I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the 
understanding also. I had rather speak five words with 
my understanding, that by my voice I might teach 
others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown 
tongue.” 

“My friends,” said Rev. Litchfield, after reading 
the above texts, ‘ ‘ there is a grand and irresistible power 
in Christian song, so far above this abominable imitation 
of heartless, Godless, operatic singing, that the least child 
in the church could not be deceived by it, or mistake 
the one for the other. Such a medley of sounds as we 
have just heard, may tickle the ear, but they leave the 
soul untouched. They neither glorify God, convert sin- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


275 


ners, nor edify saints. Such Godless, soulless, imitations 
of praise, may please men who have a form of Godliness 
but deny the power thereof; but true praise, whether in 
song or otherwise, comes only from loving hearts where- 
in the word of Christ dwells richly with all wisdom. It 
may be possible that God Almighty has understood some 
of the words uttered in our hearing to-day by these sing- 
ers, but I am so sure that we could not, that I feel it a 
duty incumbent upon me as a minister of the Gospel of 
Christ, to rebuke such sacrilegious performances in the 
house of God. This is not, cannot be true worship ; and 
anything so fraught with insincerity, and yet offered as 
a part of our worship to an Almighty, Omnipotent and 
Omnipresent God, can be but little short of mockery, 
and must be very displeasing in the sight of heaven.” 

As the singers and organist had been whispering, 
laughing, and conducting themselves in such a disorderly 
manner generally, through the services, the rebuke 
administered by the pastor was not considered much out 
of the way by the better part of his audience, though a 
few' criticised him severely. The minister, however, 
clearly saw the mistake he had made in leaving the 
whole business of looking after the church music in the 
hands of Buckwether, and that, too, without consulting 
with the official board or any other member of his charge. 
But to his honor be it said, he frankly acknowledged 
his error and implored God’s aid, with that of his 
most devout parishioners, to rid the church of all in- 
sincerity in every department of its work and worship. 
The results were, that a new choir was organized, every 
member of which was in full harmony with the church, 
and they not only honored God in song, but also edified 
the church by singing the gospel with such clear articula- 


276 


CADDO; OR, 


tion that every word was as distinctly understood by the 
entire congregation, as was the preached word from the 
pastor. Moreover, God verified his promise to “honor 
those who honor him” with their “true spiritual 
worship,” and such a revival of heartfelt religion soon 
followed as Caddo never had known before. 

All through the week following the new quartette 
singing in Litchfield’s church, the subject of church 
choirs and quartettes was discussed by Buckwether, 
Elliott, Mincer, Burton, and any others who would 
listen to their severe censure of Rev. Litchfield. Quite 
a company were gathered at the post-office on the follow- 
ing Saturday evening, and Dr. Buckwether was venting 
his (saintly?) wrath on the new minister. 

“ I tell you, candidly, gentlemen,” said he, “I have 
never before been so sadly disappointed in any man as 
I have in Litchfield. Why, when he preached his first 
sermon here, I thought he was going to be a second 
Peter Cartwright ; but he has shown himself to be any- 
thing else but a Christian gentleman.” 

“What’s the matter with Litchfield, Doc. ?” said 
Slathers, “ you needn’t feel slighted jist ’cause he didn’t 
call on ye agin fer your long horned, double compound- 
ed back-action, all over creation prayer ; fer they say 
Mrs. Warren told him as how you’d got that same ole 
chestnut off here ’bout a thousand times already, till 
everybody is sick an’ tired uv it. ” 

“ He has shown his utter lack of appreciation of good 
artistic church music, sir,” said Buckwether, “or he 
never would have criticised our efficient quartette as he 
did last Sunday. We have never had anything to equal 
that singing before.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


277 


‘ ‘ An’ it’s to be hoped you never will agin, fer the 
devil hisself couldn’t understand a word of it.” 

‘•Oh, well, Josh,” said Elliott, “that is not the design 
in real artistic singin’. The object is to keep time , and to 
harmonize our voices with the instrument ; it is not 
expected that a ignorant congregation will be able to 
understand these difficult pints in artistic music, much 
less any of the words that are sung.” 

“That’s the reason you sing in Choctaw, then, I 
s’ pose?” 

“Oh, Mistah Slathahs,” cried Mincer, “this shows 
youah Utah ignowance of the fust pwinciples of weal 
awtistic singing. How could you weally be expected to 
undahstand such singing as owahs?” 

“Oh, you monkey-headed, bow-legged, blatherskite, 
you air as ignorant yourself as a bag uv putty, an’ 
can’t keep no better time in music ’en our ole cow, when 
the dog is a runnin’ arter her. No wonder ’at nobody 
kin understand you, fer you never larnt all your letters 
yit, at least you never sound the letter ‘ r ’ ef you kin help 
it.” 

“Mr. Slathers,” said Buckwether, “I was with the 
quartette two evenings when they were practicing on 
their first anthem, and I am sure it was not difficult for 
me to tell what piece they were singing, and I think if 
you had been possessed of a musically trained ear, you, 
too, could have understood fully as much as I did.” 

“ Don’t doubt it at all, Doc., an’ I’ll bet you five 
dollars I kin translate more uv that durned gibberish 
what they sung, into good plain English en you kin 
now, if you dare.” 

‘ ‘ Why, man, are you so ignorant as to suppose they 
sung in a foreign language or tongue ? ” 


278 


CADDO; OR , 


“ Oh, no, Doc., it was all home-made Chocktaw, an’ 
when translated into simple English, meant that Pat 
Murphy had bought another large addition to his stock 
uv dogs, an’ wus a gittin’ short uv feed.” 

Thus ended another Saturday evening’s war of words, 
in which Buckwether’s love for Joshua Slathers was not 
materially increased. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


279 


CHAPTER XXXVII. 

THE CLOUDS BREAKING AWAY. 

G EORGE Hartley had applied himself so earnestly 
and had made such rapid progress in his studies 
that he had surpassed many of the students in the med- 
ical college, who had plenty of money and all of their 
time for the acquirement of their medical education. 
But in the accomplishment of this he had not neglected 
any part of his duties as an employe in his uncle’s large 
hardware house; and so valuable had his services 
become in the business, that his uncle offered to take 
him in as a junior partner, on condition that he would 
give up the study of medicine and give his whole ener- 
gies to the hardware business. This he declined doing ; 
saying that he had made choice of the medical profession 
as a life’s business and preferred not to give it up. 

“ Then,” said his uncle, “ I advise you to enter the 
medical college regularly, and complete your course 
without the delay which your services with me would 
necessitate.” 

“I would gladly do so, uncle,” said George, “if I 
were able ; but while my father is struggling so hard to 
keep our home and farm I must be doing something to 
help him, and if my services are satisfactory to you I 
wish to hold my present position, since by so doing I 
can help my kind parents who have done so much for 
>> 


me. 


280 


CADDO; OA\ 


“ George, you are pure gold,” replied his uncle, as 
he laid his hand kindly on the young man’s shoulder. 

‘ ‘ I shall miss your careful work much in the store, but 
I cannot be instrumental in holding you back from the 
life work of your choice, for which I see you are labor- 
ing so earnestly to fit yourself. Since you told me of 
your father’s condition, I have determined to stand by 
him and you, his noble son, until you can complete your 
college course, and when you are able, as under the 
blessing of God you will be, you may repay me for 
what I do for you now.” 

“ You are very kind, uncle, but I dare not assume an 
obligation that I may never be able to meet. I prefer 
going on as I have been doing, if you are satisfied.” 

The firm, yet kind old business man looked George 
in the eyes for a moment, while tears filled his own, as 
he saw clearly that every word that his nephew had 
uttered came from his heart. Then remembering his 
only son, whom he had followed to his last earthly rest- 
ing place in Spring-Grove Cemetery but little more than a 
year before, a new feeling crept into his soul, and from 
that hour George Hartley was taken into the sacred 
recess of the old man’s heart, that none but his cher- 
ished son, Henry, had ever before occupied. And 
out of the fullness of his bereaved affections, he said : 

“George, from this moment you are my boy, and 
you must do as I wish you to. I can hire others to do 
the work in the store that you have been doing. I have 
watched you closely for more than a year, and can, and 
do trust you fully. Not only this, but I see and know 
by your manly, Christian character, and earnest applica- 
tion to business, that you already have the surest and 
best capital for making a success in any honorable occu- 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


281 


pation which you may choose for your life work. More 
than this, I think you care something for my happiness. 
Am I right in this, George ?” 

“Most assuredly you are, uncle; how could I feel 
otherwise when you have always treated me so kindly ? 
There is no personal sacrifice I would not cheerfully 
make to please you, and if you insist upon it, I shall 
give up my cherished wish to go into the medical field, 
and will settle down to the hardware business.” 

“ I do not insist upon your giving up the pursuit of 
your choice, George, since it is an honorable one, for 
you will succeed better in that than in one which is dis- 
tasteful to you. My father was a blacksmith, and 
wished me to follow the same business, which I did for 
a short time to please him. But, having a strong desire 
for mercantile pursuits, I chose the hardware trade and 
have been much more successful than I should have 
been in a business that I did not like. I have also 
observed that others who have made a failure in the 
business for which they were not well adapted or quali- 
fied, have made a grand success when they have found 
their true life work. These, with many other things, 
have taught me that every man must be the architect of 
his own fortune. But, George, this is a day of sharp 
competition, and those who enter upon any pursuit, 
unprepared or unqualified for meeting the opposition 
of those who are thoroughly equipped for their work, 
must necessarily labor, like the mechanic with few and 
poor tools, at a great disadvantage. So you must now 
devote your whole time to your regular medical course, 
and thoroughly qualify yourself for your chosen life pro- 
fession, in order that you may successfully compete with 
the best educated physicians. I shall pay all of your 
19 


282 


CADDO; OK , 


necessary bills and expenses, and you can pay me when 
you are successfully established in your profession. But 
before that time I shall expect nothing in remuneration 
for what I do for you.” 

“This is very kind, and wholly unexpected from you, 
uncle, but I think I should talk with my father and 
mother before accepting such a proposition from any 
one; and if you can spare me, I will run up Saturday 
evening and spend Sunday with them, and if they are 
willing for me to assume such an obligation, I shall be 
inexpressibly glad to accept your generous offer.” 

“Very well, George; it is always best for a young 
man to consult his parents before taking any important 
step, and 1 will write a short letter to them, which I 
wish you to take with you.” 

So the next Saturday evening found George at home 
with his parents, and when the letter was opened, a 
check for five hundred dollars was found in it, payable 
to Henry Hartley’s order, with a request that it should 
be used in any way that their present necessities might 
require. He further wrote : 

“It is my desire that you encourage George to quit 
the hardware store and enter regularly on his medical 
course at once. I have proved him to be honest, faith- 
ful and energetic. More than this, I have found him 
true to his convictions of duty. Instead of spending 
his Sabbaths in loafing on the street corners, as so many 
young men do, he attends regularly the church services 
and Sabbath- school ; and our superintendent tells me 
that he is one of his most earnest and efficient teachers. 
Then he is so uniformly kind, and considerate of my 
wishes and interests, and so thoughtful of you, his 
parents, that he has won a place in my heart that I once 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


283 


thought none but my own lost Henry could ever hold. 
Therefore, his and your burden shall also be mine in the 
future, and I feel sure you will not object to his enter- 
ing regularly on his medical course, when I assure you 
that neither he nor you shall ever suffer loss by it, as 
other checks shall follow the one I send you to-day, 
whenever they are needed. Trusting I shall receive 
your favorable reply, I am, 

Your affectionate brother, 

George Wentworth.” 

“ It may not be our way, Henry, and yet the Lord is 
providing in his own way,” said Mrs. Hartley; “and 
our home and farm seem more secure to us now than 
they have at any time in the past five years.” 

“True, wife,” said Mr. Hartley, “but it seems 
humiliating to me to be under such heavy obligations to> 
your brother.” 

“Well, Henry, as this offer has been made without 
any of our asking or seeking, it must be that God’s hand 
is in it. Possibly we may be able to pay off our debt 
sooner with George as a physician to help us than in 
any other way.” 

“ I fear, Alice, that it will be a long time before he 
can work into a practice amongst so many older physi- 
cians that will be at all remunerative. But if you think 
best to accept your brother’s proffered aid I shall not 
oppose it, but shall send him my note for the five hun- 
dred dollar check with the same interest I am paying to 
Dr. Blackfoot. Then, with the stock and grain we now 
have on hand ready for market, we can pay another 
five hundred dollars in addition to the semi-annual pay- 
ment of the interest on the remainder, so we can de- 
crease our indebtedness to the Doctor one thousand 


284 


CADDO; OR, 


dollars, by owing one-half of it to your brother. But 
how we are to raise the other four thousand with inter- 
est in one more year is more than I can see, and it 
seems to me we had better pay the interest only, and 
lay the remainder by for our use when we have to 
give up our dear old home and farm.” 

“No, Henry, I think we had better pay the one 
thousand dollars on the debt, and trust God for the 
future. He will not permit us to suffer, if we do all we 
can for ourselves. I cannot tell you why I feel so 
secure as I have for weeks past, unless it is just my 
womanly instinct, which tells me that our home is still 
to be ours. And now since my brother has written 
such a kind and assuring letter, this feeling is still more 
increased, so let us accept this as another one of God’s 
blessings to us.” 

Thus it was settled that Mr. Wentworth’s offer should 
be accepted, and George went back to the city with a 
lighter and happier heart than he had known since the 
day he received Nora’s letter asking him to correspond 
with her during her absence from Caddo. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


285 


CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

THE GAS EXPERTS AND A WOMAN’S INSTINCT. 

N EARLY five years had passed since Henry Hartley 
had been compelled to mortgage his beautiful 
home and farm for money to meet the debts of other 
parties, for whom he had, through the kindness of his 
heart endorsed, and it was by the most rigid self denial 
and close economy by every member of his family 
that he had been able to meet his taxes and family 
expenses in addition to the oft-recurring semi-annual 
payments of interest on his mortgage note. He was 
becoming very much disheartened, and said to his wife 
as they sat alone in their room one night a short 
time before George’s recent visit to them from the city : 

“ Alice, what shall we do? We have not yet been 
able to pay a dollar of the principal on our mortgage 
debt, and we are nearing the end of the fifth year. 
True, we could now make a small payment on the prin- 
cipal, but as we only have one more year to pay out the 
remainder, it seems to me it is almost throwing the 
money away to apply it on this note. Would it not be 
better for us to give up the struggle and let Dr. Black- 
foot take the farm now, and keep what we have to 
start anew somewhere else?” 

“ I have thought of this many times, Henry, and of 
late have made this a subject of special prayer ; for I 
desire that we may be led rightly in the matter, and that 
we shall take no hasty step that might give us cause for 


286 


CADDO; OR , 


regret in the future. I have been reading a tract to-day 
on ‘ Christian giving, or, paying what we owe,’ by a 
layman, and if the author of this tract is correct in his 
views, we have been robbing God, and cannot expect 
His blessing to rest on our efforts to extricate ourselves 
from this bondage of debt we are laboring under.” 

“Why, Alice, I do not understand what you mean by 
robbing God; we surely have not done that.” 

“Yes, Henry, we have, and I wish you to read this 
tract before you sleep to-night. Let me read to you one 
of the passages the author refers to, from the third 
chapter of Malachi : ‘ Will a man rob God ? Yet ye 
have robbed me. But ye say, wherein have we robbed 
thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a 
curse, for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there 
may be meat in my house ; and prove me now, here- 
with, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the 
windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that 
there shall not be room enough to receive it.’ Now 
Henry, you know we have never tithed our income. 
We have never had any systematic method of giving for 
religious and charitable purposes. True, we do some- 
times give a very little in support of our church and 
Sunday-school, but we have not given the tenth as God 
requires.” 

“ No, Alice, nor can we do it now. Why, you see 
how hard it has been for us to meet our own real needs 
and obligations, by using all of our income, and where 
should we have been if we had given the tenth of it 
away? No, Alice, we surely cannot begin this system 
•of giving while we are so badly in debt.” 

“God honors those who honor Him, Henry. He 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


287 


can bless the little or blast the much. I find this com- 
mand, with a promised blessing, in the third of Proverbs : 

‘ Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first 
fruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled 
with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new 
wine.” 

“ Notwithstanding all you have read and quoted from 
the Sacred Word, Alice, I fear it would not be safe for 
us to begin tithing our income and giving a tenth of it 
to religious and charitable purposes while we are so 
badly in debt. If we were out of debt I should be will- 
ing to risk it at least.” 

“ Our Heavenly Father never gives His children a 
command that would be unsafe for us to follow, Henry; 
and as His command is to bring in all the tithes, and 
prove him herewith, how can we dare to disobey him 
in this more than any other command, especially when 
he crowns obedience . with such a rich and positive 
promise ?” 

“I know, Alice, but this seems too great a stretch of 
faith to begin such a system of giving now. Why, we 
should have no foundation to stand upon, and would 
do like Peter, sink, when he undertook to obey the 
command of Christ to walk to him on the water. You 
surely would not advise so unreasonable a thing as that, 
Alice, even if Christ did command Peter to undertake 
it.” 

‘ « The Savior’s language was more in the form of per- 
mission in that instance, Henry, than that of command, 
and could be in no way obligatory upon us or any one 
else. But even Peter’s deliverance proves that, how- 
ever unreasonable God’s requirements may seem to us, 
obedience will always be safe. Let me read to you the 


288 


CADDO; OR , 


statement of a gentleman in Pennsylvania, which I find 
on page 1 2 of this tract on Christian Giving :* ‘ I was 
in doubt for a long time that I ought to give much to 
benevolence while I was in debt. I began to doubt, 
however, after a hard and unsuccessful struggle to get 
out of debt, that I should ever succeed. At length I 
was persuaded that I was robbing God to pay my 
creditors. My wife and I consulted over the matter 
and determined to give a tenth, which we have done, 
and God is prospering us beyond any previous exper- 
ience . 5 But, Henry, this tract is all so good and prac- 
tical, I wish you would carefully read it through while I 
look over some clothing that needs mending, and then 
tell me what you think of it . 55 

Mr. Hartley, after carefully reading the tract, sat in 
deep thought for quite a while, and then said : 

“Well, Alice, lam ready to begin this system of 
proportionate giving, for I am now fully convinced that 
it is God’s command, and the only safe course for us to 
pursue.” 

After arising from their evening devotion that night 
Mr. Hartley fondly kissed his wife, and said : 

‘ * I thank you, dear, for having urged this point of 
systematic giving, until you led me to investigate the 
matter; for I feel that we have now taken God as a 
partner in our efforts to save our home, and with the 
Omnipotent One as a member of the firm, we shall 
never fail.” 

The Monday following two strange men were seen 
meandering along a ravine on the back part of Mr. Hart- 


* This is a tract that every business man and woman should read, and 
it will be mailed to any address free, by addressing “Layman, 310 
Ashland Ave., Chicago, 111. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


289 


ley’s farm. Their conduct was so peculiar that it at- 
tracted the attention of Mr. Slathers, who was work- 
ing in a field near by. They would go quite a distance 
up the ravine from where he first saw them and then 
return and stop quite a while near a spring, where 
something seemed to attract their attention. Then they 
went down the ravine and were gone for an hour or 
two, when they came slowly meandering back to the 
spring again, where they seemed to be picking up pieces 
of rock and in some way examining the water. At last 
they went over into the field where Mr. Slathers was at 
work, and one of the men, who introduced himself as 
Aaron Foster, of Pittsburg, asked the former whose 
farm the spring was on. 

“ Mr. Hartley’s, sir, Mr. Henry Hartley’s,” answered 
Slathers; “an’ no finer man ever drawed breath under 
a jacket ’en what he is.” 

“Well, Mr. Slathers, do you know whether Mr. Hart- 
ley wishes to sell his farm or not ?” asked Foster. 

“No, sir, I don’t, but I kalkerlate he would ast a 
good round figger fer it, ef he would sell it fer env 
price. You see it’s a rattlin’ nice farm, an’ the best one 
in ten miles uv Caddo, so I ’low it’ll never be bought 
fer a song.” 

“ So you think he would not sell the farm, or at least 
a part of it for a fair price?” 

“No, sir, I’ve no idee he would. But what were you 
fellers a squintin’ around that ’ere spring so much fer?” 

“ We were passing through the country, looking at 
different localities, and this struck us as being a good 
stock farm, as that spring would furnish water for quite 
a herd of cattle. Is that large farm house over the brow 
of the hill Mr. Hartley’s residence ?” 


290 


CADDO; OA\ 


‘•Yes, sir.” 

“Is the gentleman at home to-day?” 

“ No, sir, he was called away on business fer Mr. 
W arren this mornin’ an’ will not be at home afore late 
to-night.” 

Slathers’ keen wit taught him that the parties had 
discovered something in the locality of the spring, 
which made it an object for them to get possession of 
the farm, and he determined that Hartley should have 
the benefit of his predictions. So a half hour after dark 
he drove out on the road he knew Hartley would have 
to travel, in coming home, and met him two miles out 
of town. 

“What is it, Joshua?” asked Hartley, as they met. 
“Is there anything wrong at home ? I fear there is by 
your coming out here to meet me.” 

“Well, Hartley, I kinder thought thar mout be 
sumpthin’ up, an’ ’twould be no great shakes fer me to 
slip out here an’ drap a flea in yer ear afore ye git to 
town. Tha’s been a couple uv slick skunks a prowlin’ 
’round all day over the back part uv your farm, but 
mostly ’long the holler ’bout the spring. A while afore 
night they come to whar I was a ditchin’ an’ ast me ef 
you wanted to sell yer farm. I told ’em I guessed not 
for eny reasonable price. Now, I kalkerlate they smelt 
gas er ile, or mebby a gold mine somers ’round that 
spring, an’ ef I wuz you I’d go a leetle slow ’till I seed 
what their game wuz ; an’ as they’re waitin’ at the hotel 
fer you, er mebby at your house by this time, you kin 
jist kinder be a stiffnin’ yer lip fer ’em.” 

“ All right, Joshua, I shall act on your suggestions 
and thank you for your kindness,” replied Hartley, as 
the two rode homeward together. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


291 


On arriving at home, Mr. Hartley found that the two 
men had gone immediately to his house after they had 
taken tea at the hotel, and had been waiting quite a 
while for his return. 

They had talked the matter over, however, and 
arrived at the conclusion that it would be better to tell 
Mr. Hartley just what their object was, as they had been 
led to believe by Slathers that the farm could not be 
purchased for any reasonable sum ; besides it might be 
better for their purposes to lease the land, if this could 
be done. So, after they had introduced themselves, 
Mr. Foster said : 

“ Mr. Hartley, we have discovered strong indications 
of oil on the western part of your farm, and we desire 
the exclusive right to put down one or more wells in 
that locality ; and have called to see on what terms we 
can secure this right. We had thought of making you 
an offer on your land, but from what your neighbors 
say, you do not- care to part with it. So we have 
determined to make you a liberal offer for a lease, or a 
share of the profits in the enterprise, if that would suit 
you better, provided you give us the exclusive control 
of all gas or oil that may be discovered by drilling wells 
on any part of your land.” 

“Well, gentlemen, what are your propositions?” 
asked Hartley. “And what guarantee have I that you 
will faithfully carry out your part of the contract ? And 
in what way do I become complicated with you in this 
business?” 

“As to your first question, Mr. Hartley, we will pay 
you one hundred dollars for the exclusive lease, for gas 
or oil purposes only, of your land for fifty years, which 
might be better for you, since, if we fail to find either 


292 


CADDO; OR, 


gas or oil in paying quantities, you will be that much 
ahead and nothing out, while we will be at all the 
expense in drilling the wells. Then, as to our guaran- 
tee that we will faithfully carry out our part of the con- 
tract, we can give you plenty of evidence that we are 
experts in the business and that we are backed by suffi- 
cient capital to run it. But, first, we should like to 
know how our lease proposition strikes you.” 

“That would not suit me at all, gentlemen. I would 
not have such an incumbrance as that put upon the 
farm for fifty years for many times the sum you offer.'’ 

“Well, then, we will allow you five per cent, of the 
net profits if you will board our hands while they are 
drilling the well or wells, as the case may be, and we 
will furnish all the machinery, and be at all the expense, 
so that you need not become in any way complicated 
with us.” 

“Your propositions seem quite meager, gentlemen,” 
said Hartley, “and 1 shall be in no hurry to accept 
them. But what will you charge me for drilling from 
one to five wells, none of them to be less than one 
thousand feet deep, or twenty-five feet in Trenton rock, 
you to furnish everything, including the casings for the 
wells?” 

“ We would rather make you another proposition, 
Mr. Hartley, before figuring on yours,” said Mr. Foster, 
“ and we will make it ten per cent, of the net profits; 
can’t we, Mr. Luring?” 

The latter named gentleman, Foster’s companion, 
had permitted Mr. Foster to do nearly all the talking, 
but Hartley could see that of the two, Luring was the 
shrewder man. 

*‘It strikes me that if we give Mr. Hartley ten per 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


293 


cent, of the net profits, Mr. Foster, and we furnish all 
the machinery and do all the work, that we pay dearly 
for what is only a vague prospect, but as you have vir- 
tually made the offer, of course, we are in honor bound 
to stand by it.” 

“Well, gentlemen,” replied Hartley; “I never wish 
to close an important contract without sufficient time 
for considering it in all its bearings, and as you have 
given me no answer on my proposition, perhaps we 
should each do better to study over the matter until 
ten o’clock to-morrow morning, when we shall be better 
able to arrive at satisfactory conclusions.” 

Messrs. Foster and Luring had now learned that 
Hartley understood himself, and was not to be “caught 
with chaff,” so they agreed with him that it would be 
better to give the matter further thought, and said it 
would be satisfactory with them to meet him at any 
place that he would designate at ten o’clock the follow- 
ing morning, and asked : 

“ Where shall we meet you, Mr. Hartley; here at 
your house, or will you be over in town ?” 

“I shall be in town, at Mr. Benton’s office, about the 
time agreed upon, and in the meantime will think over 
your proposition, and should like then to hear from you 
on mine.” 

This he said, not that he was in a condition to have 
even one well drilled without outside help, but he wished 
to test their estimate, as experts from the gas and oil 
fields, as to the prospect of finding anything valuable in 
this line on his farm. 

“Very well, Mr. Hartley,” answered Foster, “we 
will talk over the matter, but I am sure it would be 
better for you to accept one of our propositions, since, 


294 


CADDO; OK , 


by so doing, you run no risk, while we must sink money 
if we do not find gas or oil in paying quantities. But 
we will not detain you longer this evening, so will bid 
you good night.” 

i|C % % ^ >fc 

“What do you think of those men and their proposi- 
tions, Alice?” asked Mr. Hartley, after he and his wife 
had talked the matter over. 

“It seems clearly apparent to me, Henry, that they 
feel very confident of success in finding something 
valuable by drilling, and that they intend to get control 
of the lion’s share of whatever is found.” 

“ Well, that is just the way it struck me, Alice, but I 
was not going to commit myself in any way to them until 
I had talked with you about it, as I wanted first a 
woman’s quick perception in confirmation of my own 
views, for I have never been led into error by following 
your advice in any important matter.” 

“ I thank you, Henry, for the honor you thus confer 
on me, and my daily prayer has been that I may ever 
be a true helpmeet to you in the highest and best sense ; 
and the fact that you appreciate my efforts to aid you 
in every way is ample proof that my prayers have been 
answered.” 

‘ ‘ An angel could be no truer to my interests than you 
have always been, Alice, and in all my financial disas- 
ters you have never spoken an unkind word to me for 
endorsing for the parties who have wrecked both you 
and me, although you warned me of the danger before 
I did it. Many a wife, under the circumstances, would 
constantly be saying to her husband, ‘ I told you so; it’s 
good enough for you,’ and a thousand other aggravating 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


295 


things, as if that could mend matters, or cause a man to 
have a higher appreciation of his wife.” 

4 ‘When I saw how deeply you were grieved over our 
loss, Henry, and that not for yourself but for your 
family, I should have forfeited the right to even the 
name of wife to so noble a man, if I had upbraided you 
for what you could not then help. But what answer 
had you thought of giving to those men to-morrow ?” 

“Well, Alice, I don’t see that I can do better than to 
accept their last offer of ten per cent. I could not give 
them a fifty year lease, and we are not able to hire even 
one well drilled. But, if there is oil or gas to be had 
by drilling, we may as well have something out of 
it while we can. But what do you think I had better 
do ? Now, here is where I need my wife’s advice again, 
so let’s hear what a woman will say.” 

“ I should say wait, Henry.” 

“Wait? I hardly understand you, Alice. You know 
I must give them an answer in the morning.” 

“ Well, I should tell them that the gas or oil, if there, 
will stay there until some better proposition is made 
than they have yet offered.” 

“But who is likely to make any other offer, Alice? 
We never before dreamed of there being anything worth 
drilling for.” 

“I can give you no reason for my feelings, Henry, 
but, as you have asked my advice, I have frankly told 
you what I should do, and now leave the whole matter 
for you to decide.” 

Mr. Hartley dropped his head in his hands in deep 
thought for some moments, and then looking up at his 
wife with a pleasant smile, said: 


296 


CADDO; OR, 


“ Alice, you are a mystery to me, but I am going to 
take your advice and see how this matter will come out; 
although it seems to me it would have been better for 
us to accept their last offer, and let them go to work at 
once.” 

So on meeting Messrs. Luring and Foster at Benton’s 
office the following morning, he said : 

“I have considered your propositions, gentlemen^ 
and decided that I cannot accept either of them ; but I 
am ready to hear what your figures would be on drilling 
one or more wells for me, as I mentioned last evening?” 

“ As we are leasing gas and oil lands, and not taking 
contracts for other parties, we Have not figured on your 
proposition, Mr. Hartley,” replied Foster; “so if you 
are not disposed to entertain either of our propositions, 
we shall see other parties in this locality who are more 
enterprising.” 

For a moment Mr. Hartley wavered, but as he had 
pledged his word to his wife, he would not break it, so 
asked them if they would give him thirty days time to 
accept or reject their last offer. This they refused to 
do, but agreed to allow him ten days, if he would 
give them a positive answer within that time; and this 
he finally consented to. So the gas experts left Caddo 
without prospecting any further at that time. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


297 


CHAPTER XXXIX. 

CADDO STRIKES A “ GUSHER. ” 


G EORGE Hartley was the bearer of a long and 
fervent letter of thanks from his parents to his uncle, 
on his return to the City ; also, his father’s note for the 
five hundred dollar check. In a postscript his mother 
had added : 

“ Never can you know, dear brother, how highly we 
appreciate your kindness ; and although we may never 
be able to return the favor, yet God, in His infinite good- 
ness, will not let your generous act go unrewarded. ” 
After reading this letter, Mr. Wentworth resolved to 
go up to Caddo and spend a day or two with his sister 
and brother-in-law, so the following Thursday found him 
seated with Henry Hartley’s family at their mid-day 
repast. After dinner, Mr. Hartley told Mr. Wentworth 
all about the gas and oil experts that had recently visited 
his farm, and what propositions they had made, and asked 
him if he would like to walk over to the locality where 
they had proposed to sink a well. 

u Certainly,” said he, u I am beginning to take a great 
interest in this gas business, for I think it is destined yet 
to be a greater blessing to the world, than ever oil has 
been.” 

After examining the spring and the rocky formations 
around it, Mr. Wentworth said: 

20 


298 


CADDO; OR , 


“ Henry, my advice to you would be to have a well 
drilled here, at once, and if anything valuable is found, 
then control it yourself.” 

“ I had been thinking of organizing a stock company 
for that purpose, but am not in a condition to take stock 
enough to control it,” replied Hartley. “ If I had the 
money I should prefer controlling the whole business 
myself.” 

“ Well, how would you like me as a silent partner in 
the enterprise, Henry ? I have just sold a piece of City 
property, and have thirty thousand dollars lying in the 
bank that is doing me no good there. Can’t we two 
form the company, you furnishing the land and I the 
money ? ” 

‘ ‘ I could not ask you to do that, George ; but if you 
are willing to risk it, I shall be very happy to make such 
an arrangement, for I would much rather give you 
ninety per cent, of the profits, if there should be any, 
than to give it to those Pittsburg monopolists.” 

“ No, Henry, we will go in as equal partners, if you 
are willing to take the whole management of the busi- 
ness, as I have all I can well attend to in the City. 
There are plenty of men who are making a business of 
drilling such wells, and I should contract with some of 
them and have the work done immediately, so that if a 
good gas well is developed here you can pipe the town 
before cold weather sets in ; and you can draw on me 
for the money at any time you need it.” 

Two weeks after the above conversation, the dull 
thud of the drill and grunting of the engine were heard, 
day and night, on the Hartley farm, until Trenton rock 
was struck, at a depth of nine hundred and seventy-eight 
feet, when quite a volume of gas came pouring forth 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


299 


from the shaft. All necessary precautions were then 
taken to prevent any accident, after which the drilling 
was continued twenty-three feet further, when the 
pressure of gas became so strong that the drill could not 
longer be worked with saftey ; and as it was drawn out, 
or almost lifted out by the rushing gas up the shaft, 
pieces of Trenton rock were blown out with such force 
as to render it dangerous for the workmen to remain 
near the derrick for several minutes. In short, the 
Hartley well was a “gusher.” A telegram was sent to 
Mr. Wentworth, and the next train brought him to 
Caddo. 

After fifty feet of pipe was attached to the casing, in 
order to conduct the escaping gas a safe distance from 
the well, and then fired, the roaring, deafening sound of 
the rushing gas, and the billowing flame, could be heard 
for miles away, and hundreds of men, women and child- 
ren gathered to see this monster wonder, which, at night, 
lighted up the heavens and reminded them of some of 
the ancient pictures of Pandemonium turned loose. If 
a happier man than Henry Hartley could be found on 
the ground, it was Mr. Wentwdrth. 

“Now is the time, Henry, to organize your stock 
company,” remarked Wentworth, as the two entered the 
library after tea. “Caddo must utilize this grand fuel, 
and it will cost far more to pipe the town than it has to 
drill the well.” 

“True, George, but how are we to control the stock 
if it gets into the hands of a large company ? ” 

“ That will be easy enough to manage, Henry. We 
will organize on sixty thousand dollars capital, and the 
well should be put in at ten thousand, or more. Then 
I will take thirty thousand additional stock, so there 


CADDO; 0A\ 


300 

will only be twenty thousand more to secure, and this 
should be so generally distributed over the town, 
amongst your wealthier men and large consumers, that 
no rival company would have sufficient inducement for 
coming in. As soon as this is done, we must secure a 
charter or permit from the town council to pipe the 
streets of Caddo, and then we shall be ready for busi- 
ness.” 

‘‘Well, George, I see you have a better business head 
than I, and I shall follow your advice ; so if you think 
best we will walk over to Mr. Benton’s office and have 
him draw up the necessary papers for organizing the 
company. ” 

Thus matters were so arranged, that in two weeks 
from the day Mr. Wentworth received the telegram that 
a “gusher” was struck on the Hartley farm, the first 
and only successful natural gas company that Caddo 
has ever had, was fully organized and ready for busi- 
ness, with George Wentworth, president, and Henry 
Hartley, secretary and treasuer. The new fuel being 
less expensive and so much more cleanly and convenient 
than coal or wood, nearly every citizen in Caddo soon 
became patrons of the Hartley gas company; but several 
weeks intervened after the organization of the company 
before the town was piped and ready to supply its 
patrons with gas. 

“Henry,” said Mr. Wentworth a short time after 
Caddo was piped and most of the citizens using the gas, 
“I want you to take up the note that Dr. Blackfoot 
holds against you. It isn’t the thing for him to hold a 
mortgage any longer on your farm, as that practically 
covers the gas well, in addition to the farm.” 

“ I should gladly do so, George, if I had the money, 


CUPID TN THE GAS BELT. 


301 


but with the exception of what I have in my hands as 
treasurer of the company, I could not raise a thousand 
dollars, and I dare not use a dollar of the company’s 
money for individual purposes.” 

u Neither do I wish you to. Here is my check for 
what you say is the full amount to date, and I want you 
to take up that paper and have the mortgage released 
and canceled before I go back to the City. You may 
give me your note, payable in twelve months, for the 
face of the check. I want to see you out of that man’s 
clutches without further delay.” 

“ George Wentworth,” exclaimed Hartley, as the 
grateful tears dimmed his eyes, “you have been more 
than a brother to me, and God only can reward you for 
this great kindness.” 

And the two strong men clasped hands in silence for 
a moment, when Mr. Wentworth replied : 

‘ ‘ God has richly rewarded me in all I have done for 
you, as my stock in this gas plant is the best property 
by far that I now hold. Beside this, your noble son, 
my namesake, is fast winning the place in my heart, by 
his thoughtful kindness, which was once occupied only 
by my own boy, your namesake, Henry, and anything 
I can do for George and you gives me more real satisfac- 
tion than any amount of money possibly could, since you 
fully repay me with your hearty appreciation and 
kindness.” 

Thus was Henry Hartley’s home and farm redeemed 
six months before the final payment fell due, to the great 
chagrin of Dr. Blackfoot, who, for more than four years, 
had looked upon this valuable property as practically 
in his own possession. The proceeds of the farm, 
added to Hartley’s salary as general business manager, 


302 


CADDO; OR, 


together with his dividends on his gas stock, amounted to 
to more than enough before the year was out to meet the 
two notes given to his brother-in-law, so he wrote, asking 
him to send them up to the Caddo bank, as he wished 
to take them up. But Mr. Wentworth had put the five 
hundred dollar note with some other papers, in a sealed 
package and given it to George, with instructions to 
keep the package safely until he should call for it. So 
he wrote in reply that he had transferred the first note to 
another party, and as it was not in his possession, it 
would be out of the question for him to send it to the 
Caddo bank as requested ; but added that, as the note 
would not be due until Christmas, it could make but 
little difference to Hartley if it was not paid before 
maturity. 

All this time Mr. and Mrs. Hartley had strictly 
adhered to their rule of systematically giving the tenth 
of their net income to benevolent and religious purposes ; 
but now that their income was so great, Mr. Hartley 
thought this too large a sum to give, so he said to his 
wife one evening as they sat alone in the library : 

“ Alice, I have been thinking that we should not be 
required to give so largely to benevolence as the tenth 
will be, now that this sum is becoming so great. Why 
it will run into many hundreds of dollars annually, and 
no one will expect us to give so largely.” 

“ Henry,” replied Mrs. Hartley, “God has blessed 
the little, and he is able to blast the much, and unless 
we can find liberty in His sacred Word to withhold the 
tithe, and appropriate it to our own use, simply because 
it has increased to a large amount, we surely cannot 
safely take such a step, no matter what others may do 
or think. And as our heavenly Father has cared for, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


303 


and blessed us in our adversity, let us not be so ungrate- 
ful as to forget Him now in our prosperity.” 

“ Dear Alice,” said Hartley, clasping his wife in his 
arms and imprinting a warm kiss on her cheek, “how 
often you have been my gaurdian angel ; for it was by 
taking your advice that our present prosperity was 
secured, and I see you are right in this matter, as you 
generally are in everything. We will not only continue 
giving the tenth as before, but should we see necessity 
for it, will give even more, as God prospers us.” 

Many, from that day, were the destitute and afflicted 
who received aid from Mr. and Mrs. Hartley in so quiet 
a manner, that none but God and the givers ever knew 
from whom the aid came, and in this service of making 
others happy, they soon found more real pleasure than 
they had ever before known ; thus joyously realizing the 
full meaning of their Master’s words : a It is more blessed 
to give than to receive.” 


304 


CADDO ; OR , 


CHAPTER XL. 


AN OLD MAID THWARTS THE COLLEGE STUDENT. 



ORA had been in Miss North’s school more than a 


^ year, and while she had made commendable prog- 
ress in her studies, yet she had suffered intensely with 
home-sickness. 

“ Why,” thought she, as she sat in her room late one 
Saturday night, ‘ 4 why do my parents keep me here 
in this prison of a school? More than a year has now 
passed since I saw any of the loved ones in Caddo, yet 
they say I must stay here another year. Oh, what an 
age it seems ! If George were there 1 should be more 
anxious than ever to go. But why need I care for him ? 
He has forgotten me long ago, or he surely would have 
written. No, he could not entirely forget the girl whose 
life he risked his own to save. It is not that. He is 
disgusted with me for writing such a gushing letter to 
him. But how could I help it ? I did love him. I do 
love him to-night, despite all my efforts to forget him. 
Oh, if I only knew his heart as I do my own. Yes, it 
would even be a relief to know that he does not despise 
me. I see him so often in my dreams, and his look has 
always been full of loving sympathy, just as it was in 
Caddo. I wonder what he is doing to-night. Most 
likely poring over some musty old doctor book, or — ugh!” 
and a shudder ran through her soul as she finished the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


305 


sentence, ‘ ‘ possibly dissecting some hideous, frightful 
corpse, in the pursuit of his cherished ambition. But 
why do I let my thoughts run so constantly to him, when 
I have no assurance that he ever gives a passing thought 
to me ? Can it be possible, as some claim, that mind 
acts on mind, even at so great a distance ? If so, I 
shall compel him to think of me in my loneliness 
to-night.” 

Strange as it may seem, this was the very night that 
George Hartley and Stuart Stanley were telling each 
other of their sore heart troubles, but some weeks inter- 
vened before the latter returned to Albany on a visit to 
his parents. 

“Please see Miss Blackfoot, if possible, Stanley, 
while you are in Albany,” said young Hartley, as the 
former stepped on the platform of an east-bound train 
at Cincinnati. “Iam sure you can find out why she 
never answered my letters if any one can, and I would 
rather know the worst than be kept forever indoubt and 
suspense.” 

“All right, George, I’ll see her if she is in Albany, 
unless that lynx-eyed old maid out-generals me, and I 
hardly think she will.” 

Soon after Stanley’s arrival in Albany, he called at 
Miss North’s school and requested to see Miss Black- 
foot, saying that he had “ a message for her from one of 
her old classmates of Caddo.” 

“ You can leave the message with me,” said Miss 
North, “ and I can give it to her when she comes down 
to my room; but she is engaged with her studies now, 
and I do not wish my pupils disturbed by callers during 
study hours.” 


306 


CADDO; OR , 


“Very well, Miss North; but if you will please 
tell me when she will be at leisure, I will call at that 
hour, as I do not wish to intrude on her time, nor to 
violate the rules of your school.” 

“ If it is a matter of so much importance as to require 
your calling again, you had better leave the word with 
me while you are here, as I do not wish frequent calls 
made by gentlemen on my pupils while they are under 
my care.” 

“Miss North, I have come as a gentleman with a 
message for Miss Blackfoot, that concerns no one else ; 
and as it will only take a few moments to deliver it, I 
shall not leave without complying with my promise. 
So I shall wait until the young lady is at leisure.” 

This he said with the coolest firmness, feeling sure 
now, that the message would never be delivered, if Miss 
North could prevent it. 

“Well,” said she, “if it is so important as that, I 
suppose I can call her down to my parlor, but whatever 
you have to communicate to her must be done in my 
presence. ” 

“ Certainly, Miss North, I surely have no wish to say 
anything to a pupil of yours that would be improper for 
any lady to hear; while, as I said before, what I have to 
say to her concerns no one else. Beside, you are well 
enough acquainted with me to know whether I am a 
gentleman or not.” 

“ Oh, certainly, Mr. Stanley, I know you are a gentle- 
man, and all that ; but my rules are such that no young 
man need expect such privileges as you ask. Yet I 
shall suspend them just this one time, since you urge it 
so strongly.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


307 


So saying, she left the room, but soon returned, 
followed by the most beautiful young lady that Mr. 
Stanley had ever seen. Miss North snapped out an 
informal introduction, which was rather embarrassing 
to both parties, after which Mr. Stanley said : 

‘ ‘ Miss Blackfoot, I am just home on a short visit 
from the Cincinnati Medical College, and while there I 
formed a very pleasant acquaintance with an old class- 
mate and friend of yours, Mr. George Hartley, and he 
requested me to call on you and give you his kindest 
regards, and ” 

“ If that is your business here, Mr. Stanley,” inter- 
rupted Miss North, “this interview must cease 
immediately ; this is no place for carrying on a flirtation, 
even by proxy;” and before Stanley could finish his 
sentence, Nora was hurried out of the parlor and back to 
her room, more thoroughly bewildered than she had been 
at any time since entering Miss North’s school, as this 
amiable (?) lady had told her while bringing her down 
to the parlor, that a worthless adventurer who was 
always seeking an introduction to every handsome 
young lady, had called for her, and she could not get 
him to leave until he had seen her. Notwithstanding 
Miss North’s efforts, however, to predjudice Nora 
against her caller, there was something so sad, yet frank 
and manly in his expression and bearing toward her, 
that she could not believe him to be such a character as 
this lady (?) had pictured him; and there was now a 
faint ray of hope in her heart that George had not entirely 
forgotten her. Yet she had been hurried off without 
an opportunity of sending him a single word in response 
to his kind greeting through Stanley to her. So when 
Stanley had to report this fact to Nora’s anxious lover, 


308 


CADDO; OA\ 


he felt but little hope that his message had met with a 
kind response in her heart; for, thought he, “She 
might have sent me some word of recognition if she 
cared a straw for me.” But neither he nor Stanley 
knew what had been said to her just before entering 
Miss North’s parlor, hence neither could account for 
her silence on any other ground than indifference. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


309 


CHAPTER XLI. 

THE ANGEL OF DEATH. 

I T was the last of September and near the close of the 
second year of Nora’s absence from home, when 
typhoid fever, in its most malignant form, became an 
epidemic in Caddo. But few families escaped its 
ravages, thus making it impossible for the afflicted ones 
to secure nurses enough to properly care for their sick. 
Both Nora’s mother and sister, Kate, were stricken 
down with the dreaded fever; and Belle’s second 
child was less than a week old, and her first born 
not yet two years old, quite helpless from spinal disease 
and sore eyes, with almost total blindness, which 
rendered it a constant care. It was now a matter of 
necessity that Nora should come home at once. 
Accordingly her father wrote her, enclosing his draft 
for a sufficient amount to settle her bills and pay her 
expenses home, adding : 

“We are all sick, Nora, and as it is uncertain when 
you can be spared from home again, if ever, you must 
settle your bills, pack your trunks and come home by 
first train, if possible, after receiving this letter. I would 
go and accompany you home, but your mother and 
Kate are too sick for me to leave them, while I lack 
much of feeling well myself. Hoping to have you with 
us before the week closes, I am, as ever, your pa, 

R. Blackfoot.” 


310 


CADDO; OR, 


Nora was but human, and it must be admitted that 
there was an unusual feeling of gladness in her heart on 
reading this letter. And why not? It meant a release 
from what, to her, had been little less than a two years' 
imprisonment. Then, as she had heard nothing before 
of their sickness at home, she could not realize the dark- 
ness of the cloud that overshadowed her father’s house; 
hence she did not feel guilty of wrong doing, when 
reproved by Miss North for her light-heartedness and 
little snatches of song that occasionally escaped her lips 
as she hastily packed her trunks on the morning she 
received her father’s letter. 

A wreck on the road had thrown Nora’s train two 
hours late, so that it was near midnight when she 
arrived in Caddo. The agent, however, had told her 
father that the train was three hours late, so no one had 
gone to meet her at the depot, and she had to walk 
home through a cold October rain that was falling. 
As her overshoes and extra wraps were in her trunks, 
her feet, as well as her arms and shoulders were quite 
wet before she reached home. 

Both her mother and Kate were unconscious from the 
effects of their raging fever, and were almost constantly 
calling for Nora when she entered the room, where her 
father was busily engaged in waiting on them. As it 
was impossible to have them in separate rooms and give 
them the attention they both required in their delirium, 
with no reliable nurse to help him, the large, airy parlor 
had been temporarily converted into a special room for 
the sick, by Dr. Blackfoot. 

Under the excitement Nora’s wet feet and clothing 
were forgotten, and as her father was nearly crazed from 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


311 


loss of sleep, he readily yielded to her entreaties to lie 
down for two or three hours’ rest, after giving her direc- 
tions as to patients’ medicine, etc. 

Whether from the soothing effects of a woman’s hand 
or not, both of the sufferers soon became more quiet, 
so Nora did not call her father until the gray light of 
morning had dispelled the shadows of night, when a 
sense of extreme chilliness was creeping over her, and 
she was painfully conscious of the danger in remaining 
longer in her damp clothing. Her father cursed his 
carelessness in not having her to change her clothing 
immediately on her arrival, saying : 

“Now you will be sick next, and our house is already 
a hospital. I don’t see why the devil I didn’t think of 
your wet clothing last night when you came in. 

D n the luck ! everything goes wrong with me of 

late. But, come hurry off with your wet clothes, and 
then go into the dining room, where there is a good 
gas fire for you to warm by and heat your feet. We 
cannot have a fire in this room while their fever is so 
high.” 

Although Nora soon had on dry clothing and warmed 
her feet well by the dining room fire, yet it was nearly 
noon before the cold chills ceased creeping over her, 
after which a dull headache oppressed her, until she 
was relieved by an afternoon nap. She then assured 
her father that she felt quite well again, and took her 
place in the sick room, greatly to his relief, for neither 
patient was gaining, and Kate was evidently growing 
worse. They had both been sick ten days and no 
abatement of the fever had been effected. Although 
both frequently called Nora, yet only momentary inter- 
vals of consciousness revealed the fact that they knew 


312 


CADDO; 0A\ 


she was with them, for, over and over again, Kate 
repeated the words : 

“When will Nora come? When will Nora come? 
Papa said she was coming; why don’t she come?” 

And her mother’s expression was : 

“ Nora will come to-morrow, Nora will come to-mor- 
row.” 

The condition of the sufferers continued about the 
same for three days after Nora’s arrival, when Mrs. 
Blackfoot’s fever abated and she recovered conscious- 
ness, but Kate’s fever rather ran higher, and her almost 
constant cry was: 

“ Why don’t Nora come ? When will she come ?” 

“I am here, darling; don’t you know me?” said 
Nora as she pushed the dark hair from the hot brow 
and fanned her fevered cheek. “Nora is here with 
you. Don’t you know me ? I have come to stay with 
you and make you well.” 

A wild, unnatural stare was Kate’s only response, 
and she soon began again : 

“Why don’t Nora come ? I want Nora.” 

This was too much for the girl who had been so happy 
on her way homeward, after so long an absence, and 
she sobbed out as she bent over her delirious sister, and 
kissed her fevered brow : 

“Oh, if she only knew me! How can I make her 
know I am with her ?” And Nora’s hot tears fell rapidly 
over the face of her unconscious, yet suffering sister. 

Another dark and gloomy week passed, with but little 
change in Mrs. Blackfoot, while Kate constantly grew 
worse, when it was clearly seen that life’s end for her 
was near. 

“ Oh, if she only could know me before she goes; ” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


313 


sobbed Nora, as she bent lovingly over her ; at which the 
child slowly opened her eyes and faintly whispered : 

“Nora — Nora — Oh, I’m — so — glad — you’ve come, 
I — love you — Nora — and I’m — so — sorry — I made — you 
cry — before — you — went — away. I love — you — and — 
George — and — every one. Let me — kiss — you, — Nora. 
Put — your arm — around me — and — lift — me up.” 

Nora gently lifted the wasted form of her dying sister, 
and held her in her arms with all the tender fondness 
that even a loving mother could have bestowed, until 
the last moment came, when a sweet smile played over 
the face of the dying child as she whispered : 

“ Good by Nora. We’ll — meet — again — up — 

yonder.” 

And doubtless the eyes that then closed on earth, 
were forever opened to the grand beauties of heaven. 

This was the first death in Dr. Blackfoot’s family, 
and the shock was so great to his sick wife, that for days 
following this sad ordeal but little hope was entertained 
of her recovery. Arch had also been too ill to be of 
much service in the sick room, and Fin was utterly 
worthless and untrustworthy in such a place, while Belle, 
his wife, was not in a condition to render any material 
aid. The consequence was, the Doctor himself broke 
down under the long continued strain, so that he was 
now unable to render further intelligent services at his 
wife’s bedside, for he, too, was now taking the same 
fever. This disease had become so prevalent in Caddo, 
and vicinity, that no efficient help could be obtained, 
and Nora saw that everything now depended upon her. 

Mrs. Dr. Truworthy was the only physician in Caddo 
that was now able to give any professional attention to 
21 


314 


CADDO; OK , 


the sick, as the other doctors were all stricken down, 
partly from overwork and exposure, with the same 
malady. Had it not been that George Hartley had just 
then returned from the City, having finished his medical 
course, doubtless many more fatalities would have 
occurred than did, as it was impossible for Dr. Tru- 
worthy to answer half the calls that were made upon her. 

George was not only a “ born nurse, ” but was now 
also a well read physician, as he had for years devoted 
all of his spare time to the acquisition of medical knowl- 
edge, and for the past year had bent his whole energies, 
with the best of advantages, to the solution of its deepest 
mysteries. Yet he was keenly conscious of the fact that, 
with all of his acquired knowledge from books and 
theoretical training in college, without the opportunity 
of putting this knowledge into practice in the sick room, 
it could be of but little advantage to him. Mrs. Dr. 
Truworthy had been very kind to him, amd had always 
given him free access to her large medical library ; 
hence he felt himself under deep obligations to her, 
which he acknowledged in the following manner the 
next morning after his arrival at home. 

“Doctor,” said he, on entering her office, “lam 
under lasting obligations to you for the great kindness 
and many favors you have shown me in the past ; so 
now let me, in any way possible, be of some service 
to you.” 

“Well, George,” said she, taking him warmly by the 
hand, “there never was a time when I needed your 
services half so much as now. 1 have not had my 
clothing off for a night’s rest for more than a week, 
and still have not been able to answer half the calls that 
have been made upon me. There has just been an 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


315 


urgent call forme to go to Dr. Blackfoot’s and I want 
you to go with me, as I shall have to leave the cases 
there, as well as several others of his patients, in your 
care for the present at least, for my own regular 
customers must have my services first.” 

“ Oh, Doctor ! ” said George, “ anywhere but there ; 
I’ll take a dozen other places, but please don’t ask me 
to go to Dr. Blackfoot’s.” 

“ George Hartley,” replied Dr. Truworthy, “I see 
you have your first lesson to learn in the general prac- 
tice of medicine, and not until you learn that, can I 
consistently call you Doctor Hartley. The true physi- 
cian must never let any personal matters swerve him 
from his duties toward the sick. If you really wish to 
help me, you can best do so by taking the patients that 
I wish to put under your care.” 

Little did she know the struggle that was going on in 
the young man’s heart, as many of the incidents of the 
past five years flashed through his mind ; the proud and 
haughty bearing of the family, the sneers and gross 
insults that had been heaped upon him on account of 
his poverty ; for while he was not by any means poverty 
stricken now , yet the transition to comparative wealth 
had been so sudden, that he scarcely realized the fact 
that his father now stood the peer of any of Caddo’s 
citizens in this respect, while he, himself, was not a poor 
man, since his uncle had virtually adopted him as a son. 
Then how could he bear the ordeal of Dr. Blackfoot’s 
criticism in the sick room ? Besides, there was the 
proud, beautiful girl just returned from the New York 
boarding school, who had not even deigned to answer 
his letters, nor send a single word of recognition by his 
College friend, Stanley. Yet, through the kind, but 


316 


CADDO; 0A\ 


firm words of Dr. Truworthy, he quickly overcame all of 
these feelings, and said : 

“I know you are right, Doctor, and I will go 
wherever duty calls me, if by that means I can the 
better help you.” 

“Thank you, my brave Doctor Hartley,” said she, 

‘ ‘ you are now taking your first step toward a successful 
practice in your chosen profession. But we have no 
more time for talk, as grave duties call us to earnest 
work. Come with me and I will place more patients 
under your care the first day of your practice, than any 
young physician ever had in this county before.” 

And as the latter part of this sentence was uttered, 
they were on their way to Dr. Blackfoot’s residence, 
where they were met at the door by a servant, who led 
them to the large parlor, which, on account of its 
spacious airiness, had been appropriated for the sick 
room. The Doctor occupied a bed on the north, and 
his wife another on the south side of the room, thus 
Nora was kept almost constantly busy in attending to 
their wants ; as her father was now delirious the greater 
part of the time from the effects of his raging fever, 
while her mother was nearing that critical period in her 
disease when everything depended on watchful and 
careful nursing. 

Though an introduction was not necessary, yet Dr. 
Truworthy said : 

“Miss Nora, I take pleasure in introducing to you 
Dr. Hartley, whom I shall leave in charge here, and 
several other places from which I have received urgent 
calls, as it will be impossible for me to give the 
professional attention to so many patients that the grave 
character of the cases will require.” 


CUPID TN THE GAS BELT. 317 

While this was no time for formalities, yet Nora 
stepped forward and gave George her hand in such a 
cordial manner, as she said, “You are a thousand 
times welcome here, Mr. Hartley,” that he felt half 
ashamed that he had hesitated a moment in coming. 

Dr. Blackfoot’s temperature was then six degrees 
above normal, his fever being so high that he was 
wholly unconscious of his surroundings, and had not 
been able for hours to retain anything that had been 
administered for his relief. Several questions were 
asked Nora as to what the condition of the patients had 
been through the night, and after making a careful 
examination of both sufferers, a short consultation was 
held and a plan of operations agreed upon, one of which 
was a sponge bath for Nora’s father, as the best means 
of reducing his temperature. This, young Hartley him- 
self administered, while Dr. Truworthy called on 
another patient near by ; after which she requested him 
to accompany her in her calls on several other patients 
that required more medical attention than she could 
possibly give them, and made arrangements with such 
for him to take charge of them, with the understanding 
that she would call occasionally, if it was found 
necessary. 

Late in the afternoon Dr. Hartley called again at Dr. 
Blackfoot’s and found a slight improvement in both the 
Doctor and his wife; the former perspiring slightly, 
and his temperature two degrees lower, so that he had 
intervals of consciousness. At one of these times he 
looked up at George, and holding out his hand in a half 
friendly way, said : 

“ Glad to see you, George ; they say you have come 
to help us. We are in a devil of a fix, and we need 


318 


CADDO; OR, 


help badly enough, that’s certain ; so you can just go 
ahead, and I’ll pay you well for it when I get on my feet 
again. ” 

“All right, Doctor, I’ll do all I can for you. I have 
come to assist here at the request of Dr. Truworthy, 
who is so nearly exhausted by the heavy tax of attend- 
ing to other physicians’ patients, besides her own, 
through this epidemic, that she fears she cannot stand 
up under the extra work much longer without some 
relief, and I am glad that my services will not be 
offensive to you.” 

“A man must not be too nice when he’s down, 
George, but what worries me most now is, Nora will be 
down shortly, if she is not relieved in some way, and it 
seems that no efficient nurse can now be had for love or 
money. She has scarcely had an hour’s undisturbed 
rest since she came home.” 

“ I will see that she is relieved of all care to-night, 
Doctor, so please give yourself no further anxiety on 
that point, for it is important that you, too, should rest 
as quietly as possible to-night.” 

The first week of the young Doctor’s care of his sick 
patients, brought but little change ; but at the end of the 
second week, material improvement in both the Doctor 
and his wife was clearly apparent, and not until this was 
the case, could Nora be prevailed upon to leave them, day 
or night, long at a time ; hence she and George were 
thrown much of the time together. Yet there had been 
no opportunity for anything more than commonplace 
words between them since their meeting, after more 
than two years’ separation. But whenever their eyes 
met, the language that had been flashed from these 
“ windows of the soul ” to each other, years before, was 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


319 


repeated with redoubled emphasis ; yet strange as it may 
seem, this language was not understood by either. In 
him she now saw a handsome, tall, broad shouldered 
young man, with clean shaven face, except a dark 
heavy mustache, and carrying himself with a dignity 
that impressed her as the very ideal and embodiment of 
true manhood. 

“ But,” thought she, “he cares but little for me; 
else, why did he never answer my letters? No, he is 
now a full-fledged professional man, and worships only 
the god of fame and ambition. His whole thoughts are 
bent on building for himself a name in the medical 
world. How eloquently he talks on this subject, but 
has never yet alluded to any of our past life or associa- 
tions. I half believe now that Mr. Stanley called on 
me at Miss North’s school out of curiosity, and that 
George knew nothing of his intended visit, or at least 
never sent the word that Stanley claimed he did. But 
how shall I ever know? I dare not ask him. No; if 
he really cares anything for me, he surely will make it 
known in some way, without my making myself 
offensive to him again, as I did in my second letter.” 

These, and similar thoughts, flitted through Nora’s 
mind when the more serious thoughts of caring for her 
sick parents were not occupying her attention. And as 
she had grown still more beautiful, and had fully 
developed into all that is lovely in womanhood, George 
saw in her his only earthly idol. Hence, as he watched 
her naturally graceful movements, with fawn like step 
and soft, delicate touch, as she anxiously ministered to 
the wants of her suffering parents, he saw so much of 
the real woman in her, that he was constantly in fear 
lest he should reveal so much of his heart to her that she 


320 


CADDO; OR , 


would shrink from him in disgust, before he could be 
excused from the duties he had promised Dr. Truworthy 
he would perform. Although he was having excellent 
success with all of his patients, and now clearly saw his 
ability to work into a lucrative practice in Caddo and 
vicinity, yet every day he was thrown in the presence of 
Nora, brought additional proof that he could not long 
remain there without any assurance that he could some 
day claim this lovely woman for his wife. 

“ How can I win her?” thought he. “ She does not 
seem to avoid me, and yet she seems so timid, I dare 
not even approach the subject that lies nearest my heart. 
I once thought if I had wealth I should have no fears of 
my ability to win her. But I now see clearly that 
neither wealth nor position can ever capture her heart.” 

Thus while these lovers were daily in each other’s 
presence, they were in their imaginations, farther than 
ever apart. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


321 


CHAPTER XLII. 

a mother’s prayer and the betrothal. 

“ If there is aught, surpassing thought, 
Unselfish in its motive ; 

A mother’s love, born from above, 

Is surely most devoted.” 



R. Hartley had not only thoroughly studied the 


science of medicine, but also the laws of health, 
ventilation, and scientific or hygienic nursing, so that 
much of his success with his patients was achieved 
through his earnest application of this knowledge in 
their treatment, for he relied far more on the latter, and 
much less on strong medicines, than do most young 
physicians. 

There had been no worse case in Caddo than that of 
Dr. Blackfoot, and few worse than that of his wife, and 
it was admitted by all, that the skillful treatment, and 
especially the intelligent nursing, was all that saved his 
life. But, even with all this, nearly a month passed 
before he could leave his bed, and his health was never 
fully restored, for the fever fell in his lower limbs, and 
so severely in his left, that he never afterward had good 
use of it, but generally walked with a crutch, and never 
without a cane. 

As soon as it was evident that the Doctor and his 
wife were in a fair way to recover, Dr. Hartley began 
giving much more of his time to other patients ; and as 


322 


CADDO; OR, 


the fame of his success in so many bad cases spread 
abroad, he received many calls from the country, as 
well as from new patients in town. In all this work he 
threw his utmost energies, since, by so doing, he found 
a partial safety valve to his pent-up heart troubles. But 
the quick intuition of his mother readily discovered the 
cloud that darkened his hopes, and she feared the con- 
sequences; for she was justly proud of her son, and the 
grand success he seemed to be making in his chosen 
profession, yet knowing full well that no man can make 
a complete and permanent success in life’s work unaided 
by a good, pure woman, whom, above all others, he 
enshrines in his heart’s richest affections, and honors 
with the sacred name of wife. 

Yet the cloud was to be darker for the young Doctor 
than ever before. Nora had not fully recovered from 
the effects of the cold taken on the night of her return 
home, and now that her parents were out of danger, 
her vital forces, which had been stretched to the utmost 
in caring for them, gave way, and she, too, was stricken 
down with the fever. 

“Hope deferred,” not only “maketh the heart sick,’’ 
but also has a fearfully depressing effect on the general 
health. If George had boldly opened his heart to her, 
as she thought he had had ample opportunity to do, if 
he really cared for her as she did for him, it would 
have proved a magical tonic, worth far more to her 
than his medicines, or, what she now thought was his 
cold, scientific nursing. For, through fear of offending 
her parents, and of a repulse from her, the young Doc- 
tor had carried himself in her presence with an apparent 
cold dignity, which was not only unnatural with him, 
but oppressive to her. He seemed to even avoid her 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


323 


touch ; but little did she dream that any touch from her 
hand, however light, sent such an electric thrill through 
his very being, that it was with the greatest effort he 
could, at such times, resist the temptation to clasp her 
in his arms, and reveal to her the fearful tempest that 
was raging in his soul. 

Under this condition of affairs Nora’s fever constantly 
increased until, on the fourth day after taking her 
bed, she was unconscious the greater part of the time. 
As neither her father nor mother were yet able to sit 
up more than a few minutes at a time, Dr. Hartley had 
suggested that his mother would come and stay with 
Nora a part of the time, if this would be satisfactory to 
the family, since it was thought best that she should 
still occupy her own room, there being no other suitable 
room for her below. 

“Well, George,” said Dr. Blackfoot, not willing 
to recognize him as a doctor who might yet become a 
formidable rival, “we are in a helpless condition and 
shall have to let you manage matters for us as best you 
can, and if you and your mother can help us out until 
we can get on our feet again, we will pay you well for 
it.” 

But Mrs. Blackfoot, with far more soul, and less 
jealousy in her thoughts, said : 

“ Yes, George, you have shown yourself to be not 
only an excellent doctor and nurse, but also a true gen- 
tleman as well, and we can, with all confidence, trust 
Nora’s case to you, believing you will leave nothing in 
human power undone to save her, for I am sure that 
she and you have always been the best of friends.” 

“Thank you,” answered Dr. Hartley as he took 
Mrs. Blackfoot’s hand warmly in his own, “ I sincerely 


324 


CADDO; OK , 


thank you for this expression of confidence in my 
ability and honor. I will save her if \ in human power , it 
can be done. ” 

“I believe you will,” was the feeble, yet kind re- 
sponse from the invalid mother. 

The general sickness had considerably abated by this 
time, and as two of the other physicians had sufficiently 
recovered to resume their practice, Dr. Hartley made 
arrangements with them and Dr. Tru worthy to take all 
other urgent cases off his hands, and from that day 
devoted almost every hour of his time to the one more 
dear to him than all of earth besides. The old widow 
lady who had been assisting as nurse in Mr. Warren’s 
family was needed no longer there, as they were now 
able, with their servants’ help, to get along without her, so 
she was put in charge of the patients in the sick room 
below, with instructions to help up stairs in Nora’s room 
when called for. 

Another week slowly passed, with no change in Nora 
for the better, but on the contrary, it was evident that 
her chances for recovery would soon be hopeless unless 
the fearful ravages of her disease could be speedily 
checked. Five more sad days dragged wearily on 
without a ray of hope to cheer the anxious, sleepless 
watchers. It had been twenty-four hours since she had 
given the least sign of consciousness. She seemed 
now to lie in that fatal stupor, so common in the last 
stages of this dreaded fever. Her feet and hands were 
growing cold. Hot cloths were applied to them and 
everything done that human ingenuity could devise to 
resuscitate her, but all seemed futile and unavailing. 

It was midnight. George and his mother sat watching 
alone by the bedside. To all human appearances the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


325 


sufferer could scarcely survive until morning. Up to 
this time young Dr. Hartley had manfully restrained 
his feelings, but could now do so no longer. So kneel- 
ing by her bedside, and bending lovingly over her, he 
sealed his first lover’s kiss, with his own hot tears on her 
cheek, sobbing so piteously : 

“ Oh, Nora, darling Nora, how can I give you up ?” 

Then looking appealingly to his mother as he now 
fully realized his own utter helplessness in the presence 
of death, he said : 

“ Mother, God alone can save her now. Will you 
ask him ?” 

This was all the grief stricken lover could say, for his 
heart seemed almost bursting with emotion. 

“Yes, George,” answered she, and kneeling by her 
son at the bedside of the unconscious sufferer, she did 
ask with a faith that seemed to take no denial, that God, 
for Christ’s sake, would pity her poor boy, who was 
pleading so earnestly for her restoration, and give back 
the precious life, which it seemed he was now taking ; 
but ended her earnest prayer with that sentence of con- 
fident resignation to the decree of heaven, “Yet not 
our will, but thine, Oh, God, be done.” 

Reader, God does hear and answer the prayer of 
faith from such a Christian mother as was Mrs. Hartley, 
and He gave signal proof of it in this case ; for, soon 
after the last words of the supplication were uttered, 
Nora slowly opened her eyes and faintly whispered : 

< < Who — W as it ? Who— called — me — darling ? — 

Who — kissed me — and called — me back ?” 

George had turned away before these words were 
uttered, for he felt that he could not see her die, so only 


326 


CADDO; OR , 


his mother had heard the faintly whispered words. 
But he heard his mother’s answer : 

“ It was George who kissed you, Nora, and called 
you darling. You will live for his sake, won’t you?” 

A sweet smile and a softly whispered “yes,” was the 
quick response, and George was by the bedside in time 
to catch both. 

“She will live, George,” said his mother. “God 
has answered our prayer, and given back her life to 
you. Blessed be His name.” 

“ Amen,” fervently responded the now truly humble, 
but gladdened and hopeful lover. 

Nora’s fever gradually abated, and her improvement, 
while slow for a time, was constant from that midnight 
hour. But not until her recovery was assured, two 
weeks later, did George absent himself an hour at a 
time, day or night, from her room. 

One ‘day when he was sitting alone with her in her 
room, after she was able to rest reclining in an invalid’s 
chair, he took her thin, white hand in his own, and 
asked her if she remembered the night she promised to 
live for his sake. 

“ I hardly know, George. I had a sweet dream one 
night, and I thought I heard your mother and the angels 
talking, and I thought a great, strong angel came to me 
and kissed me, and asked me to go with him, and, oh, 
I wanted so much to go with him, but something held 
me back. Then I slept a long, long time, and when I 
awoke you and your mother were with me. And, 
George, do you know I have so often wished that sweet 
dream would come to me again ?” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


327 


“ Nora, it was not an angel, but a great, ugly, awkward 
man, who kissed you. But he thought you were dying 
then, or he would not have dared to take such liberty. ” 

“Who was it, George? No man but my pa ever 
kissed me before, and I know that could not have been 
him, for he has not been able to come to my room yet.” 

“It was one who would lay his life at your feet, 
Nora, for the privilege of kissing you a dozen times 
every day of your sweet life. One who has always 
loved you, and one who risked his own life to save 
yours years ago.” And as her sweet, loving smile, 
beamed fondly upon him through her tears, he clasped 
her unresisting form in his arms, and said, as he im- 
printed the betrothal kiss on her willing cheek : 

“Nora, darling Nora, you are mine forever.” 

“Yes, George, dear George, yours alone forever. 
But why have you never shown me your heart before ? 
It seems to me 1 have always loved you, and I have not 
seen a day, since you so boldly risked your life to save 
mine, that I would not have freely given a thousand 
lives, if I could, to save yours.” 

Then followed a long talk about their attempted cor- 
respondence, and other misunderstandings, and when 
both clearly understood each other, Nora asked: 

“George, why are your cheeks so red? You are 
not well to-day and you have a feverish breath. Arn’t 
you really sick? Please tell me.” 

“ Don’t give yourself any anxiety about me, Nora. 
I never felt so well in my life as I do now that I know 
you are mine.” 

But here the curtain must drop on this scene, and 
open on one far less pleasant for both author and 
reader. 


328 


CADDO; OK, 


CHAPTER XLIII. 

ARRESTED AND CONVICTED. 

T HE reader will remember a character by the name 
of John Long, who was mentioned in connection 
with the plot of Blackfoot, Buckwether & Co., against 
Joshua Slathers, on the alleged counterfeit bill. This 
man, Long, proved to be a detective sent out by 
parties in Albany, N. Y., to assist them in working up 
a murder case. The reader will also recollect the 
tragic death of Dr. Blackfoot’s father and step-mother; 
and also Dr. Johnson, who attended the old gentle- 
man in his fatal illness, together with the notes he 
made of the case and filed away with his private 
papers at the time of Mr. Blackfoot’s death. These 
papers had been put in the hands of Mr. Clark, Dr. 
Johnson’s attorney, who was assisting the Doctor’s 
widow in managing her business. 

Frederick Conger, alias John Long, the detective, 
stepped into Mr. Clark’s office one day on legal busi- 
ness a short time before his first appearance in Caddo. 
The two were talking over a murder case in which 
Conger had been of great service to Mr. Clark, in fer- 
reting out the guilty parties, when the lawyer said : 

“Fred, here’s another job for you, if the scent isn’t 
too cold for you to strike the right trail.” 

He then related to the detective what Dr. Johnson 
had told him, and further showed him the notes the 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


329 


Doctor had made with reference to the case at the 
time. 

“I wish you had given me these points years ago, 
Mr. Clark, for old Mr. Blackfoot’s brother offered me 
two thousand dollars reward for the murderer in that 
case, if it could be proven that he had been poisoned, 
but there seemed to' be no clew to work from. Why 
didn’t you show me those papers at the time.” 

“ Because I knew nothing of their existence myself 
then, Conger, as they did not come into my hands until 
some time after, when I was so busy with matters per- 
taining to Dr. Johnson’s estate, that 1 neglected the 
matter at that time, and as I knew nothing of any 
reward being offered, I could see nothing to be gained 
by agitating the matter, especially after the death of 
Mrs. Blackfoot, for the estate was then almost imme- 
diately squandered. But I think Drs. Sutherland and 
Banks may yet be able to throw some light on the sub- 
ject ; if so, they may aid you in getting some reliable 
clew to the mystery.” 

Mr. Conger called on the doctors referred to, and 
then on Mr. Blackfoot’s brother and asked him if his 
reward of two thousand dollars could still be claimed if 
the party could be found and convicted who had pois- 
oned his brother. 

“Yes, sir, Mr. Conger,” answered he, “or the one 
who poisoned his wife either, for if one was poisoned, 
there is but little doubt in my mind but that both were, 
and probably by the same hand. But I have but little 
hope that the guilty party can ever be convicted at this 
late date ; yet, if you have any clew that you consider 
reliable, why, go ahead, and if you are successful the 
money shall be yours.” 

22 


330 


CADDO; OR , 


Mr. Conger had not been working a great while on the 
case, when light came to him from a quarter least antici- 
pated. He was out late one night looking up some 
evidence in a burglary case, and was disguised as a 
Catholic priest, when an Irishman accosted him in 
great excitement, exclaiming : 

“ Be the powers, how lucky ; an’ it’s meself that was 
huntin’ for a praste for a doyin’ woman. Coom along 
wid me, before she doies entoirly.” 

The detective instinct was alert in a moment in the 
disguised man,, so he asked : 

“ Does she wish to make any confessions?” 

“ Yis, sir, it’s that same she towld me entoirly. She 
says she helped to poison a rich owld man and his woife, 
an’ she can’t doie azy ’till she sees the praste.” 

“All right then, let us hasten on,” said Conger, and 
ten minutes later was at the bedside of the dying 
woman, listening to the whole story of the slow poison- 
ing of Dr. Blackfoot’s father and step-mother, and that, 
too, in the presence of three others, who were kindly 
administering to Bridget O’Leary’s wants in that sad 
hour, for it was she who was now dying. After hearing 
the whole story, he tried to give her about what consola- 
tion he supposed a priest would have done under the cir- 
cumstances. And after ascertaining the names and 
residences of the witnesses present, he reverently (?) 
folded his robes about him and walked out into the 
darkness. 

Three days after the death of Bridget O’Leary, Mr. 
Conger’s testimony was submitted to Mr. Clark, who 
was a notary public as well as a lawyer, and his state- 
ments were fully corroborated by the three witnesses 
who had heard the dying woman’s confession. The 


CUPID IN thp: gas belt . 


331 


proof was now ample for conviction, but where was the 
surviving guilty party, Richard Blackfoot ? 

As there was a large family connection, and many of 
them having removed to the central and western states, 
the next point was to learn beyond question where he 
was. The reader will now understand what Mr. Long’s 
business was in Caddo. 

In his next visit west he was accompanied by an 
officer, and clothed with authority from the Governor 
of the state to arrest one Richard Blackfoot, and take 
him back to the State of New York on a charge of 
murder. 

The Doctor had so far recovered as to be able to 
walk about the house and yard by the aid of a crutch 
and cane, but was still quite weak, and plead inability 
for such a journey and asked to be allowed to remain at 
home until his health was more fully recovered. This 
the officers refused to grant unless he could give a bond 
of ten thousand dollars for his appearance at the 
December term of court in Albany, N. Y., without 
further trouble or expense to them. 

Never had Dr. Blackfoot felt so completely crushed. 
He had always refused to aid any one in distress, and 
he now felt that he had not a friend in the wide world, 
to whom he could look for help. His recent speculations 
had been so disastrous, and his losses in other ways 
heavy, so that a mortgage on every dollars’ worth of prop- 
erty he had would not half satisfy such a demand as this. 
Besides, he had just that morning learned of Nora’s 
engagement to George, and had become so enraged 
over the matter that he had written young Hartley an 
insulting note, warning him never to cross his threshold. 
Dr. Hartley was already sick from anxiety, exposure, 


332 


CADDO; OK, 


over-work and loss of sleep, and after receiving this gross 
insult after all he had done for the family, a raging fever 
came on and ran so high that he was compelled to take 
his bed. But on learning in the afternoon of the trouble 
in which Nora’s father was placed, he staggered to his 
feet, and although it seemed that his head would almost 
burst with every step, yet, on he went to Johnson’s store 
and asked him to send a note to Dr. Blackfoot, inform- 
ing him that a friend wished to meet him in the private 
office of said store. The Doctor replied by a note that 
he would be there in a few minutes. But George was 
too sick to sit up while waiting for him, so dropped 
down on the same lounge on which Dr. Blackfoot had 
found him wounded and bleeding more than five years 
before. 

There was a side dressing room to the office, in which 
Mr. Slathers happened to be at the time, trying on a suit 
of clothes he had just purchased, and from this dressing 
room he could distinctly overhear every word spoken 
by any one in the office. When the Doctor hobbled in 
with his crutch and cane and saw only George there, 
his wrath seemed to know no bounds, as he supposed 
the young man merely wished a reconciliation on Nora’s 
account; so, with an oath, said, as George arose to a 
sitting posture : 

“ Are you the d d puppy that sent for me?” 

“Doctor,” calmly replied George, “I have learned 
that you are in trouble, and if you will accept aid from 
me, I think I can help you. Of course, no one here 
believes you guilty of the crime with which you are 
charged, but, even if you were, you are hardly able for 
such a journey as this yet. I think that myself and 
friends can secure the bond required for your appear- 


CUPID TU THE GAS BELT. 


333 


ance at the December term of court, and it will be 
much better for you to remain at home where you can 
receive every needed attention, than to be situated as 
you would be, amongst strangers, and thus be deprived 
of many home comforts.” 

A very demon seemed to have possession of Dr. 
Blackfoot, for he replied : 

“ Go to h — l with your aid and sympathy. When I 
want any of either, Fll call on a man with more money 
and brains, too, than you ever had.” 

“Doctor,” pleaded Hartley, “something seems to tell 
me that this is to be our last meeting on earth. I am 
sick ; so let us part as friends for the sake of her whom 
we both love.” 

But instead of taking George’s proffered hand, he 
struck at it with his cane, as he receded through the 
door with an oath upon his lips. 

While the officers had not, up to this time, put the 
Doctor under arrest, yet they had kept an eye on his 
movements, and did not let him get out of their sight. 
Following him out, as he left Mr. Johnson’s store, they 
asked him if he was prepared to give the required bond. 

“No,” said he doggedly, “but if you have no more 
consideration than to take a corpse, why, just take me 
along as soon as you d d please.” 

The next train that moved out of Caddo took with it 
one passenger who will never again look on this stirring 
little “gas belt” city. But, as the reader will not be 
interested in following this case through a long court 
trial, we will briefly state that Dr. Blackfoot slept and 
ate behind prison bars in Albany, N. Y., until the 
December term of the criminal court, in which his case 
was tried, when the verdict of murder was rendered by 


334 


CADDO; OR , 


the unanimous vote of the jury, and his sentence was 
imprisonment for life. 

When this word reached Caddo, Pat Murphy, who 
was one of the Doctor’s few friends, said : 

“ Sintinced for loife, did yez say?” 

“Yes, sir,” answered Slathers, “imprisonment fer 
life with hard. labor. The cussid. ole skunk has got his 
dues at last.” 

“ Faix,” cried Pat, “an’ that baste av a jedge surely 
had no oiyes at all about him, or, be dad, he could 
have seen that the poor devil was that wake he could 
nivir live to sarve out half his sintince.” 

As the limits of this book will not permit us to follow 
many of our characters further, we will merely state 
that Arch decided, soon after his father’s downfall, to 
seek his fortune in Western Texas, as he found his 
friends were few in Caddo after his father’s wealth was 
gone. His worse than widowed mother, and sister, 
Belle, with her deformed, feeble and almost idiotic 
children and husband still remain in the old home ; but 
neither of them have much knowledge of business man- 
agement, and have allowed Fin to take charge of the 
remains of the estate, which he is squandering as rapidly 
as he can convert any part of it into cash ; so that it is 
only a question of time when they will become depend- 
ent upon other parties for support. 

As intimated in a former chapter, Mr. Slathers was 
triumphantly elected sheriff, the fight made against 
him by Tom Elliott and his friends, including the saloon 
element, having greatly increased his popularity with 
all good citizens ; while evil doers have just cause to 
fear, if they do not like him, for he has made the best 
officer in this capacity that the county has ever had. 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


335 


But he says his experience as sheriff will never make 
him “hanker arter bein’ the President of these ’ere 
United States.” 

Tom Elliott and Fin Mincer are still Caddo’s cham- 
pion curbstone politicians, both claiming a wonderfully 
large following in all local, and even state and national 
elections, and they are constantly seeking an oppor- 
tunity to wield their mighty (?) influence in favor of any 
candidate who is foolish enough to give them anything 
for their support. 

Dr. Buckwether still remains in Caddo, but the 
Methodists have dropped his name from their list of 
church membership, since learning of his connection 
with the saloon and pool room business, in addition to 
his other hypocrisy. But for reasons upon which the 
next chapter will throw more light, a younger and 
much more honorable physician has taken the greater 
part of his former practice. 

Rob Johnson married an eastern lady with whom he 
became acquainted at Oberlin College, and has since 
located with his brother-in law in Kansas City, where 
they are doing a thriving dry goods business. 

But as we have left George Hartley prostrated with 
encroaching disease, in addition to the gross insults 
heaped upon him by Nora’s father, we must now follow 
this young physician into the shadow of death. 


336 


CADDO; OR , 


CHAPTER XLIV. 


IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH. — THE WEDDING. — 
JOSHUA IS HAPPY. 

“ Honored be woman ! she beams on the sight, 
Graceful and fair, like a being of light ; 

Scatters around her wherever she strays, 

Roses of bliss o’er our thorn covered ways ; 

Roses of Paradise, sent from above, 

To be gathered and twined in a garland of love. 

She, like the harp, that instinctively rings, 

As the night breathing zephyr soft sighs on the strings, 
Responds to each impulse with ready reply, 

Whether sorrow or pleasure her sympathy try, 

And teardrops and smiles on her countenance play, 
Like the sunshine and showers of a morning in May.” 



R. Hartley had miscalculated on his strength, and 


I J on receiving such a cruel and insulting repulse 
from the man he really wished to befriend for Nora’s 
sake, a pain like a crashing shot darted through his 
fevered brain, and he fell back on the lounge, prostrate 
and unconscious. His long exposure in the sick room, 
with scarcely an hour’s rest day or night for several 
weeks, in addition to the almost mortal agony of sus- 
pense he had just passed through, was too much for 
even his strong constitution to withstand, and this last 
cruel blow from the father of his betrothed, seemed to 
drive all power of reasoning from him. How long he 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


337 


had lain in this condition he did not know, but when 
partial consciousness returned he found Mr. Slathers by 
his side, tenderly bathing his head and fanning his 
fevered face, and Mr. Johnson also anxiously bending 
over him. 

“D’ye feel any better, George?” said his sympa- 
thetic friend as the sufferer slowly opened his eyes, 
and with a slight nod, looked the words of gratitude 
which he could not yet speak. 

“I’ve sent fer yer father an’ Dr. Truworthy, an’ 
they’ll soon be here, George, but I hope the wust is 
over now, an’ when yer fever goes down you’ll be all 
right.” 

Several others, out of sympathy or curiosity, had 
offered their services, but Slathers said to Mr. Johnson: 

“ Don’t let ary man on ’em come in here, fer he needs 
all the air he kin git in sich a box as this, an’ we kin do 
all as needs doin’ ’till the Doctor gits here.” 

Dr. Truworthy soon came in, and after making a 
short but careful examination of the sufferer, said to 
Mr. Johnson, whom she called out of the room for con- 
sultation : 

“ He is a very sick man, and I fear this will prove to 
be a most malignant case of typhoid fever. I called to 
see him yesterday, and advised him to keep his room 
and remain perfectly quiet. Why he is here, I cannot 
understand, but presume he must have left his room in 
a delirious fit of fever and knew not what he was doing. 
It will hardly be safe to undertake getting him back 
home, so we will take him to my house until he is better 
able to be removed so far.” 

But just then his father and mother came in, and they 
insisted that he should betaken back home if this could, 


338 


CADDO; OR, 


with any safety, be done. So it was decided that he 
should be taken just as he lay on the lounge, and as there 
were plenty of strong and willing hands ready to render 
any service possible, George Hartley was again carried 
from this room, on the same lounge that had borne his 
wounded form years before to his father’s house. 

He seemed much revived soon after reaching his own 
room and bed, and talked cheerfully to his friends, 
thanking them for their kindness and saying he was 
feeling much better and hoped he should give them no 
further trouble. But his devoted friend, Slathers, asked, 
as a special favor, that he might be permitted to remain 
with him as long as they needed extra help. 

“Mrs. Hartley,” said he, as they were temporarily 
together in another room, “ I know better’n eny one else 
what’s caused him to be tuck wuss so suddent, an’ I think 
I kin be uv some sarvice to you, an’ him, too, when the 
right time comes.” 

“ Certainly,” replied Mrs. Hartley, “ we shall be glad 
to have you here as much of the time as you can be, for 
George has always loved you as an older brother, and I 
am sure we would much rather pay you well for your 
services than to have strangers present who do not un- 
derstand caring for the sick, since so much will now 
depend on proper nursing in his case.” 

“Don’t talk ’bout pay, Mrs. Hartley. Why, I tell 
ye what’s a fact, but mebby you don’t know it ; Maggie 
Warren would a been dead, an’ my mother would a 
been dead, an’ the Lord only knows how meny more ef 
it hadn’t been fer that grand boy uv your’n a workin’ 
day an’ night like a Turk to save ’em, with never a 
thought fer hisself, lessen he, too, mought be tuck down 
sick frum so much exposure an’ loss uv sleep. An’ then 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


339 


be knovved jist what to do, an’ when they wusn’t nusses 
enough, he jist rolled up his sleeves an’ done thenussin’ 
hisself, as nice as eny woman could a done it. I tell 
you, Mrs. Hartley, when I seed the way George worked 
to save Maggie an’ my mother, thinks I to myself, young 
man, ef ever it lays in my way to resk my life fer your’n 
I’ll do it, an’ don’t you forgit it.” 

“ I thank you, Joshua, for your high appreciation of 
George; but do you think he was more attentive to 
Maggie and your mother than to other patients?” 

“No, it’s not adzactly that, Mrs. Hartley, fer he 
done everything he could fer all on ’em, the poorest as 
well as the richest, but them ’ere two wimen you men- 
tioned is wuth more’n their weight in gold to me, an’ 
when George, an’ all the rest uv the sick ones gits well, 
Maggie an’ me — ; but no difference ’bout that now, fer 
the fust thing is to see George on his feet agin, an’ no 
nonsense fer me ’till he is outen danger, an’ I kalkerlate 
he’s overcrapped hisself a doin’ fer others.” 

tl I am glad you feel as you do, Joshua, toward my 
poor, sick boy. I, too, fear George has sacrificed his 
life by this afternoon’s work. All of his efforts put 
forth for the relief of the sick while he was well we have 
fully approved ; but his efforts to-day for Dr. Blackfoot’s 
accommodation were surely ill-advised and uncalled for, 
and we did all we could to dissuade him from such an 
imprudent course ; but when he said, ‘ I know not the 
meaning of imprudence when duty calls me to the relief 
of others,’ we said no more. But if we had known how 
sick he was, we should have prevented his going in 
some way.” 

The friends who had assisted in conveying George 
back to his sick room soon left, excepting Mr. Slathers, 


340 


CADDO; OR , 


who now almost worshipped the young Doctor, and he 
resolved to spend the greater part of his time with him so 
long as his assisting care was needed. The patient was 
carefully watched that night and every effort made to 
keep his fever down, and he seemed considerably 
better the next morning, although he had slept but little 
through the night. Bright hopes were now entertained, 
that, with his naturally good constitution and temperate 
habits, he might be able to throw off the disease, and 
recover without further serious trouble. But, as life’s 
brightest hopes, like sweetest flowers, are often soonest 
blighted, so they were in this case ; for his fever now 
gradually increased, and as neither food nor medicine 
could be retained by the patient, it was soon apparent 
that the disease was rapidly assuming a malignant form, 
which seemed to be beyond any human power to 
control; and before another week had passed the young 
Doctor was delirious much of the time from the effects 
of his raging fever. At such times he was frequently 
heard calling faintly : 

“ Nora — Nora — don’t leave me — Nora.” 

At other times he seemed to think Nora’s father was 
present, and would speak with the greatest kindness : 

“ Doctor — I can help you, — believe me — I am your 
friend — for Nora’s sake ; give me a chance — will you ? 
Nora’s father.” 

Then again he would call : 

“Nora, Nora, where are you, dear? She did live. 
She said — would live for me. Nora, darling, where are 
you? Nora — I’m sick — now, but mother will love you 
— for my — sake — and take — care of you — my own — 
darling — Nora.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS PEL T. 


341 


“ Poor boy,” sighed his mother, as she stroked her 
hand soothingly over his fevered brow, while the hot 
tears traced each other in rapid succession down her 
sorrowing cheeks; “he was always so self-sacrificing, 
and he is, even now, in his delirium, thinking more of 
other’s than of his own comfort.” 

“Yes,” said Slathers, “an’ I’m goin’ to bring Nora 
here to-night, ef you air willin’ ; fer she told me this 
mornin’ that she’d come in a minit ef she thought you 
wouldn’t object. But they’re awful cut down now that 
Doc.’s been arrested an’ tuck off an’ she's afeard you 
moughtn’t want her about. But, Mrs. Hartley, Nora 
ain’t no Blackfoot; an’ I believe he wants her with him, 
an’ he can’t last long nohow, less’n he gits help some 
way soon. You know what Dr. Truworthy said, ’at 
medicine couldn’t save him now, an’ I’d as soon resk her 
’pinion as eny on ’em in a bad case uv fever like this.” 

“ You are right, Joshua, and I wish you would go 
and bring Nora at once , for we shall be glad to have her 
here, if she wishes to come.” 

“ I think, Alice,” said Mr. Hartley, “that I had 
better go, for then the poor girl will feel sure she is 
welcome.” 

“Yes, Mr. Hartley, that’s the ticket. I’d druther 
you would go an’ bring her, fer she’s nearly killed sence 
she’s a finden’ out what a ornery cuss her father is; an’ 
I’m a-feard I didn’t make her feel none too good to’ards 
me, fer I blurted out right in her face this mornin’ afore 
I thought, that ef Doc. Blackfoot wusn’t a murderer, it 
wusn’t ’cause he’s none too good to be one ; an’ ef ever 
he comes back to this town, I’ll thrash him outen his 
boots fer the way he treated George, jist afore he wuz 
’rested, arter George had done so much fer him.” 


342 


CADDO; OR , 


Although quiet talking in the room did not excite the 
sufferer in the least, as he seemed to be entirely uncon- 
scious of everything going on around him, yet this 
conversation was brought to a close by a gentle tap at 
the door by the servant, who said, Miss Blackfoot was 
in the parlor below, and asked if she could see George. 

“Certainly,” answered Mr. Hartley, “I will go 
down and bring her up.” And following the servant 
down to the parlor, he gave the grief stricken girl a 
cordial greeting, and taking her hand warmly in his 
own, said : 

“You are truly welcome, my daughter, for George 
has told us all ; and wether he lives or dies, you shall 
take the place in our hearts as his wife, and our child.” 

This reception was so unexpectedly kind, that Nora 
involuntarily threw her arms around the neck of the 
noble man, whom she had always honored, but now 
loved with a new-born affection, begotten of grief, and 
wept tears of mingled sorrow and joy. Sorrow for the 
worse than death of her own father ; joy at the unex- 
pected assurance of another and better parent. 

“Come, child,” kindly said Mr. Hartley, “your 
place is at George’s bedside ; ” and willingly taking his 
offered arm, she was led by him up to the sick room, 
where she was as warmly greeted by George’s mother as 
she had been by his father. After this kindly greeting, 
Mrs. Hartley led Nora to the bedside of her unconscious 
lover, over whom she fondly bent, while the hot tears 
that streamed from her eyes, bathed both his cheeks 
and hers as she imprinted kiss after kiss upon them. 

“Oh, George, dear George,” sobbed she, “don’t 
you know me? ” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BEL T. 


343 


A silence of several moments ensued, but no sign of 
recognition could she elicit. Then his mother called ; 

“George, George, you have been calling for Nora; 
she is here now. Can’t you speak to her ? ” 

Still there was no indication by either word or look 
that he was conscious of her presence. 

“ Dear George, my own darling,” sobbed Nora again, 
“you haved risked your own dear noble life twice to 
save mine. Oh, dear ! must I lose you now ? ” and 
after imprinting almost frantic kisses on his cheek and 
brow, she turned to Mrs. Hartley and said : 

“ Mother — for I must call you mother to-night — 
George told me that your sweet angel voice in prayer 
called me back from the very gates of death, and, Oh, 
can’t you call him, your own son back? God will 
answer your prayer, and He alone can give this precious 
life back to us now.” 

With this appeal, the father, mother, Nora, and even 
Mr. Slathers, reverently kneeled by the bedside of the 
unconscious loved one, and the cry of faith was carried 
on the wings of prayer to Heaven’s gate, begging that 
the precious life so dear to them all, might be given 
back to them, for the sake of Him who said, “ Verily, 
verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the 
Father in my name, he will give it you.” 

After arising from their knees, Nora began bathing 
his head and fanning his fevered cheeks, while she felt 
a confiding assurance that this petition was recorded in 
heaven, and could not return unanswered. 

Soon the sufferer slowly opened his eyes, and after 
looking intently at her for a moment, smiled and said : 

“Nora — you did — come. I thought — you — would 
— come — to see me.” 


344 


CADDO; 0A\ 


A thrill of joy ran through her soul as she said : 

“Yes, dear, I have come to stay with you now until 
you are well.” 

He faintly smiled, but made no further effort to speak 
for hours. It was now thought best that two of the 
watchers should retire for rest and sleep, in order that 
they could take charge in the latter part of the night ; 
and as Mrs. Hartley and Mr. Slathers had been taking 
the latter part of the night, Mr. Hartley and Nora took 
charge while the others slept. At two o’clock, Mr. 
Hartley proposed calling the other watchers, when 
Nora said : 

“ Please do not call Mrs. Hartley; she has lost so 
much sleep, that I fear she, too, will soon be sick. I 
shall not leave George, for I cannot sleep nor rest until 
he is out of danger.” 

While they were talking, both Mrs. Hartley and Mr. 
Slathers came into the sick-room, as they had been in 
the habit of awaking at that hour, and they insisted on 
the other watchers retiring now for rest. But Nora 
kindly, yet firmly, refused to leave her lover until she 
felt sure she was not needed, as he was perfectly quiet 
when her hands were about his head, while he seemed 
restless when any one else took her place. 

Mr. Hartley, however, tried to reason with her, say- 
ing : “As you have just recovered from a dangerous 
illness, it is surely unsafe for you to expose yourself in 
this way so soon.” 

“I was taken sick then” replied she bending her 
eyes lovingly on George, ‘ ‘ more from fear that he cared 
nothing for me, than from exposure or anything else ; 
and now I can, and must live for him, and 1 shall nurse 
him back to health as he did me.” 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT . 


345 


And scarcely an hour at a time, day or night, did 
Nora leave the bedside of her sick lover, for ten days 
from the time she first entered his room ; for it was more 
than a week before any clearly perceptible change for 
the better was noticed, farther than what was apparent 
soon after she had taken her place by his bedside. 
Her love was so devoted, her efforts so untiring, and 
her solicitous watching so tender and constant, that she 
won the admiration of all, for her true womanly virtues, 
and especially that of Mr. and Mrs. Hartley, who had 
always highly respected her, but now that they clearly 
saw in her the pure gold of unselfish womanhood, they 
took her into their heart of hearts, as their own child. 

Another week of watchful care passed before the 
young Doctor was considered out of danger ; but from 
that time on, the improvement was constant and rapid. 
As George’s parents and Nora were sitting alone with 
him one day, after he was able to sit propped up in bed, 
Mr. Hartley said : 

“ George, you have your Nora to thank for getting 
up again; for we were all doing our best for you, and 
you kept growing worse all the time, until she came, 
and we know it was not the medicine, for we couldn’t 
get a drop down you for nearly a week before, and after 
she came.” 

“I know it, father; I could tell the touch of her 
hand in a thousand, if I were blind. When I would 
drop to sleep it seemed to me that I was falling — falling 
— falling, but when she was rubbing my head it seemed 
to steady me, and I could rest easy with no fear of fall- 
ing. So it must have been this rest which she gave me 
that has pulled me through.” 

23 


346 


CADDO; OR , 


“No, George,” said Nora, “it was a power 

and a stronger hand than mine , that has lifted you up, 
for we all felt that first sad night I watched at your bed- 
side, that God alone could give back your life to us ; and 
I trust I have learned a lesson of faith from your Christ- 
ian mother that I shall never forget. More than this, I 
could have done but little for you without the consent 
and help of your parents, who have been more than 
father and mother to me since I have been with you.” 

“Yes, George, Nora is right,” said Mr Hartley, “for 
she put it into our hearts to ask heaven to spare your 
life, and it seemed impossible that God would refuse an 
answer to such a petition as your mother made that 
night. But with all this, our heavenly Father expects 
us to do all in our power to aid in answering our own 
prayers, and with such efficient nursing as Nora has 
made it possible for you to have, you have been almost 
miraculously brought back from the very “shadow 
of death.” 

“Well, I can only say, God bless you all, and may 
He let me live to, in part , at least, repay you for all this 
kindness. But, Nora, you look so pale ; I fear you have 
overtaxed your strength in caring for me.” 

And he bent an anxious look of love on her, that 
sent such a thrill of joy through her soul that the color 
came to her cheek as she replied : 

“ Don’t give yourself any anxiety on my account, 
George ; we shall all be well, now that you are out of 
danger.” 

Dr. Hartley contiued to improve rapidly, and the 
following week, as he was sitting in his invalid chair, 
Nora and he being alone in the room, quite a little 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


347 


combat ensued through his efforts to steal a kiss, when 
she declared he was becoming so mean, she was going 
home to leave him until he got to be a better boy. 

“ HI get sick again to spite you, Nora, if you do,” 
said he, playfully, “for I can’t get even one little kiss 
now unless I steal it ; and I know you’ve plenty of them, 
for you give them to father and mother every day.” 

“ Oh, you great bear; just wait ’till I get you in lead- 
ing strings, and I’ll teach you how to behave yourself 
like a nice boy, and not become jealous of your good 
father and mother. But, George, do you know they 
made me so welcome when I came that first night? 
And they both kissed me and called me their child, when 
I was so much afraid to come for fear they would drive 
me away, now that I am a criminal’s daughter.” 

‘ ‘ Drive you away, darling ? Never. They know I 
have loved you for years, Nora, and they have always 
been so good and kind to me, that I have told them 
everything ; and when I told them that you had promised 
to be mine forever, I could see that they just took you 
into their hearts where I have always been. And now, 
Nora, I am not the pauper that some have supposed me 
to be, for my uncle, George Wentworth, of Cincinnati, 
settles ten thousand dollars of gas stock on me as a 
wedding present, and my father has a constant income 
from his gas stock, that is worth more than the products 
of a dozen good farms ; so we can begin house-keeping 
now whenever you are ready.” 

“Oh, George, I almost wish you were not worth a 
dollar in the world,” said Nora, as she buried her face 
in his bosom, “for then we could begin life together, 
and you would know I marry you for yourself alone, 


CADDO; Oh\ 


:US 

not your stocks, money, home, or anything else ; for I 
must tell you that my father’s speculations of late have 
been so disastrous that there will scarcely be a comfort- 
able living left for mother ; while Archie, Belle, and I, 
will be left practically penniless, and I cannot become 
your wfife without letting you know the worst.” 

“ Nora, my highest earthly ambition has been to give 
you a nice, elegant home, where I can crown you my 
queen ; and that hope can now be realized, and you 
shall say whether we are to wait until your castle is built, 
or whether we shall begin house-keeping on a smaller 
scale in rented property, and then build the residence 
afterward.” 

“ George, I don’t care for any grand mansion to live 
in ; my idea of a home is a cozy little residence, with 
beautiful surroundings. I think it is a sin to put almost 
a fortune in a great mansion, when such a house is no 
more convenient nor comfortable than one much less 
expensive, while money can be used to so much better 
advantage in other ways; and I am ready to become 
Mrs. Hartley whenever you feel like taking such a 
burden to care for, and ” 

‘ ‘There — take that — and that — and that, ” said George, 
as he almost smothered her with kisses, before she could 
finish the sentence. 

a You are the rarest jewel on earth, Nora, and you 
shall have j ust such a house as suits you. I do not want any 
great, lonesome castle to live in either, for I fear my 
little wife would get lost in it, if she did not kill herself 
trying to keep it in order. So, if Christmas eve is not 
too soon for you to become my little prisoner, I can 
have the cottage on the corner of Elm and Vine streets 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


349 


nicely furnished for you by that time, and we can build 
such a house as you wish afterward.” 

“ When I promised to be yours alone forever, George, 
I made no reservation, and I make none now. I only 
pray that God will aid me in being your true helpmate, 
and worthy to share your honored name. ” 

11 But you have not said whether Christmas eve will 
suit you or not, Nora. ” 

“Three weeks seem a short time to make prepara- 
tion for a wedding, George, and you still confined to 
your room.” 

“None too short for me, dear, but you must name 
the happy day. My uncle Wentworth is coming up 
from the City on Christmas eve, and I should so much 
like to present you to him as my wife, at that time, if 
you will only consent, Nora. If you don’t speak soon,” 
said George, as he imprinted another kiss on her glow- 
ing cheek, “I shall claim that silence gives consent.” 

“ I’ll be silent then, George, for I can never willingly 
displease you. But you don’t need me here any longer, 
and I am going home.” 

Just then Mrs. Hartley’s well known step was heard 
in the hall, and Nora said, as she entered the room : 

“Mrs. Hartley, your boy is becoming so mean and 
saucy, I shall have to leave him and go home ; so if he 
has any further need of me, he will have to call on me.” 

And as she threw on her cloak and jaunty hat, a half 
hour later, and kissed her prospective mother-in-law 
good by, she whispered : 

“George says I may call you mother , after Christmas 
eve.” 

“You may call me mother now, if you wish, Nora, 
for I have called you daughter from the depths of my 


350 


CADDO; OR , 


heart ever since I have seen your pure, womanly devo- 
tion to our George.’’ 

* * ******* * 

Christmas eve soon came, and with it, health to 
George and others generally who had been sick. The 
reader will remember a five hundred dollar note that 
Mr. W entworth placed, with other papers, in a sealed 
package, and gave to George to be held by him until 
called for. Just before his nephew left the City, Mr. 
Wentworth told him jokingly, that if he was married to 
Miss Blackfoot before Christmas he would make him a 
present of ten thousand dollars of his gas stock ; also 
that he might take the sealed package with him, as there 
was a Christmas present in it for his mother, which he 
might give to her if anything prevented him from being 
present at the time. Accordingly, soon after his 
engagement to Nora, George wrote his uncle all about 
it, and jokingly claimed the gas stock. Mr. Wentworth 
promptly replied that he had made the promise in good 
faith, and as he should be with them on Christmas eve, 
he should take pleasure in bestowing the gift, but in 
compensation should claim the first kiss from the bride. 
* ******* * * 

Mrs. Blackfoot’ s parlor was brilliantly lighted, but 
only a few of the tried and true friends of the bride and 
groom were present, among whom were George’s 
parents and Uncle Wentworth from the city, also Josh 
and Maggie, since a quiet wedding, under the circum- 
stances, was desired by all parties. 

After the ceremony and benediction by the Rev. 
Litchfield, Mr. Wentworth was the first to offer con- 
gratulations, and said: 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


351 


“ George, under a previous contract I am entitled to 
the first kiss from the bride,” and stooping to Nora's 
sweet lips, she most graciously bestowed it on him. 

Just before the guests bade the bride and groom 
good-night, many beautiful gifts were presented to the 
happy pair, but Nora seemed to be the favored one ; so 
Mr. Wentworth, who had previously asked George for 
the package he had entrusted to him for safe keeping, 
opened it, and said : 

“ George, you have shown yourself to be every whit 
a man, and as a substantial recognition of your honor, 
integrity and kind treatment toward me, I herewith 
present to you one hundred shares of stock in the 
Hartley Natural Gas Company, which you will find 
properly transferred by these papers. And I shall 
expect you to take the vice-presidency of the company 
on the first of the coming year, as I cannot give it the 
required attention, situated as I am in the City.” 

Then handing George’s mother the five hundred dollar 
note which Mr. Hartley had given him a year before, 
he said: 

‘ ‘ Alice, as Christmas is a time for us all to be happy, 
I will make you a present of this note which I have held 
on a wealthy man in the Natural Gas Belt, and if you 
fail to collect it, the fault will not be mine, as it is worth 
its face in gold.” 

A silent tear of gratitude was Mrs. Hartley’s eloquent 
answer, as she bestowed a warm, sisterly kiss on the 
cheek of her noble brother ; while George could only 
say: 

“ God bless you, uncle, for all your generous kind- 
ness to me. I hope I shall never bring disgrace to your 
honored name.” 


352 


CJDjDO; OR, 


“You never will, George/’ replied his uncle, “unless 
you first dishonor God by neglecting your higher obli- 
gations to Him. But it is growing late, so we must bid 
you good-night.” 

Josh and Maggie remained for a short time after the 
other guests had departed, as they had a secret which 
they wished to communicate to George and Nora alone. 

“ By gosh, George,” exclaimed Slathers, as the four 
were seated alone near the beautiful gas fire; “ I allers 
figgered ’at you’d come up a smilin’ some time, but 
durned ef I did ’spect to see you boosted clean to 
the top notch at one hunch ; but thar ye air, with a 
nice pile uv money on top uv yer fine medical edica- 
tion to start on, and the purttiest pullet in Caddo fer a 
wife, ’ceptin’ Maggie, uv course, an’ cusst ef I ain’t 
durned glad uv it.” 

“Ah, Joshua, have you forgotten?” asked Maggie, 
as she gently pressed his arm. 

“ Oh, I beg pardon, Maggie. I did promise you 
that I’d swear off an’ quit usin’ sich fool cuss words 
afore New Year’s, but then I’ve got a week yit afore I 
’gin trottin’ in double harness ’long with you.” 

‘‘Well, I see I have a life work before me,” said 
Maggie, “as I have undertaken to reform an old 
bachelor; but if I can ever succeed in getting his lan- 
guage as pure and clean as his life and character 
have been, I shall be proud of the man I am to call my 
husband. For, as Joshua has intimated, we are to be 
married on New Year’s eve, and you, George and Nora, 
are to be our first and most honored guests.” 

“ Oh, is that so?” cried Nora. 

“ Yes, marm, that’s jistthe size uv it,” said Josh, and 
awkwardly pointing his large thumb toward Maggie, 


CUPID IN THE GAS BELT. 


35 3 


continued, “an’ you’ll hev to call her Mrs. Slathers 
arter New Years, fer ther won’t be no Maggie Warren 
’bout these parts arter that date.” 

“Well,” exclaimed George, as he warmly clasped the 
hand of each, ‘ ‘ we shall certainly take great pleasure 
in accepting your kind invitation, for there is no wed- 
ding we would rather attend than yours, since there is 
surely more of the pure gold of genuine, unselfish kind- 
ness in your hearts than is often met with in life.” 

“Please accept my congratulations, also,” added 
Nora, as she followed the example of her husband, in 
giving each a hearty shake of the hand; “ and, Maggie, 
I shall never forget one verse of that poem you recited 
four years ago at our lyceum about kind hearts. Do 
you remember it?” 

“I believe not, Nora, what was it?” 

“Why, that verse about kind hearts and simple 
worth : 


* How’er it be, it seems to me, 

’Tis only noble to be good ; 

Kind hearts are more than coronets, 

And simple worth than Norman blood.’ 

And, oh, Maggie, I do so much admire the sentiment 
of that poem.” 

“ Well, Nora, you know that has always been one of 
my pet ideas, and it is Joshua’s true manly worth and 
kindness of heart that have won me and made me willing 
to trust my whole future life with him, and, as I said 
before, his language is his only defect, and that, I hope 
will, in time, be remedied.” 

“Well, Maggie,” said Josh, as he fondly encircled 
her with his strong arm, “you’ve tackled a hard job, 


354 


CADDO; OR, 


fer whar I wuz brought up I skacely ever heerd eny- 
thing but cussin’ from eny one, ’ceptin’ my mother, an’ 
fer her sake I promised I would not take the name uv the 
Almighty in vain. I hev too much respect fer her God 
and her reg’lar, everyday, Bible religion to do sich a 
dirty thing as that; but I kalkerlate the ole devil has 
figgered out that I ain’t entitled to none too much 
respect from him, seein’ as how I’ve allers cuffed his 
name ’round like a ole boot in all my awkerd talk. 
Yit now, from this time, with God’s help added to yours, 
Maggie, I shall try hard to so conduct myself, as never 
to bring a blush uv shame to your pure cheek.” 

But, reader, our story from “real life” must here 
close. Suffice it to add that the happiest holidays that 
George and Nora had ever known were passed in the 
little cottage on Vine street. And with the exception 
of the dark shadow cast over Nora’s life by her father’s 
acts and the infelicitous situation of the other members 
of her family, she is the happiest woman, and we are 
sure that Dr. Hartley and Mr. Slathers are two of the 
happiest men in Caddo; while Maggie has never re- 
gretted that she married a true man for his “simple 
worth.” 


INDEX. 


355 


INDEX. 


C h ap. Page. 

1. The Rescue, 9 

2. A Heartless Doctor, 13 

3. College Days, 19 

4. Broken Vows, 22 

5. Hot Words, and the Dire Result; 31 

6. A Hasty Father and an Angry Son, .... 38 

7. A Hasty Marriage, 44 

8. Death by Slow Poisoning, 48 

9. A Fearful Retribution, 54 

10. A Reckless Speculator, 60 

11. Pre-Natal Influence, 65 

12. Penuriousness, and a Doctor’s Free Ride, . . 77 

13. Shylock Thwarted, 93 

14. A Dutchman’s Courtship, and his Second- 

Hand Wife, 1 o 1 

15. The Irishman and his Dogs, 1 13 

16. Married to a Fast Man, 119 

17. Married for Wealth, 125 

18. The Wealthy (?) Son-in-Law Speculates with 

a Vengeance, 130 

19. Mincer Honors (?) Caddo with his Cane and 

Citizenship, 137 

20. Barriers Thrown Between George and Nora, 140 

21. The Dance that was Turned Into a Service 

of Song, 149 

22. Banished from Home and Friends, 156 

23. Two Lovely Girls, and a Partial Revelation, 16 1 


356 


INDEX . 


Chap. Page. 

24. A Modern Pharisee, 168 

25. An Accident. — Slathers Preaches a Sermon, 173 

26. The Intercepted Letter, 180 

27. The Lyceum, or Mincer as a Literary Man, . 196 

28. A Debate on the Suffrage Question, . . . .200 

29. A Midnight Plot, 224 

30. The Plot Exploded, 234 

31. The Thwarted Suitors Compare Notes, . . .237 

32. The Dutchman and the Cat, 241 

33. Josh Slathers has the “ Fever ’n Ager,” . . . 247 

34. More Midnight Plotting, . . 253 

35. Joshua as a Counterfeiter, or the Lawyer Out- 

witted, 257 

36. Dr. Buckwether’s Quartette, 271 

37. The Clouds Breaking Away, 279 

38. The Gas Experts, and a Woman’s Instinct, . 285 

39. Caddo Strikes a “ Gusher,” 297 

40. An Old Maid Thwarts the College Student, . 304 

41. The Angel of Death, 309 

42. A Mother’s Prayer, and the Betrothal, . . .321 

43. Arrested and Convicted, 328 

44. In the Shadow of Death. — The Wedding. — 

Joshua is Happy, 336 


OADDO ; OR, CUPID IN THE CAS BELT, 

Will be sent to any address in the United States or Canada, 
on receipt of Price, 


Elegantly Bound in Cloth, # 15 ° 

In Paper Cover, 75 


Address, JAMES CHARLES, Publisher , 

Richmond, Ind., U. S. A. 







































□ 0 □ 1 4 b S fl fe. 5 2 



% 7J; 


Ssss // /-' , "/ss 

■ ■■■■y- V ' 


y/Z2> 

s'* i s 







v ^/,„ ; 

"sss//sy> ’s S ' 


■/'s/s/sy/.' 


m 


